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VMBS awards $1.2m in scholarships

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Chad Bryan, Youthlink Writer

Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites urged students to do more critical thinking as the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) will be changed next year to reflect the use of those skills rather than rote learning.

"GSAT depends too much on memory. We must develop critical and analytical thinking. We have to change the GSAT come next year, changing it from memory to more critical thinking," he declared.

He also touched on the worrying issue of this year's mathematics results in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams, noting that the efforts to change the disappointing results must be a collective one involving everyone in Jamaica. "Everybody must be geared at upgrading the math competency in Jamaica."

The minister made these and other declarations as the keynote speaker at the 27th annual Victoria Mutual Scholarship Awards Ceremony, which was held at the Blue Mountain Suite of The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston. During the ceremony, more than $1.2 million in scholarships, bursaries and grants was handed out to students pursuing academic studies at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Categories of awards included the VM Save2grow Bursary, the VMBS Junior Plan 'Head-Start' Scholarship, VMBS Future Plan 'Head-Start' Scholarship and the VMBS Master Plan 'Head-Start' Scholarship.

To recognise Jamaica's 50th anniversary of Independence, the 134-year-old institution presented three members with a commemorative Jamaica 50 bursary award to assist with their academic pursuits. 

View photo highlights here: http://youthlinkjamaica.com/gallery/vmbs-awards-scholarships