A grand graduation ceremony was recently held for eight-four students of John Pickering Senior Secondary School at the school’s premises in West Coast Region.
According to the school authorities, this year’s graduation is the 5th of its kind to be held in the school.
In his annual speech to graduands, the principal of the school, Boto Camara said the school’s enrolment currently stands at 569 students, of which 302 are boys and 267 girls.
The school, he said, has a teaching staff of 16 including 5 university graduates, 8 HTC graduates and 3 diploma holders with teaching experience ranging from 5 to 28 years.
However, he said, the student’s attitudes towards learning “is not the least encouraging” since many students are not punctual at school.
Most of the students are in the habit of not doing their homework and other assignments given to them by their teachers, he noted.
“Also school fees collection is a problem,” he said, while urging students to always pay on time.
He also said some parents wait for the child to be sent home for fees before they would pay. “This is a tedious activity,” Mr Camara said.
He also used the occasion to appeal to parents, well-wishers and philanthropists to help them in getting a computer lab, a science lab and a library to help facilitate teaching and learning at the school, to meet the demands of the changing world in the fields of IT and science and technology.
He also used the occasion to register his appreciation to and commendation of MoBSE through the regional office in Brikama, for their support and encouragement.
The guest speaker of the occasion, Lamin Nyabally, permanent secretary at the office of the Vice President, thanked the school management for inviting him to be the guest speaker of the occasion.
In his speech, PS Nyabally advised the graduands to desist from illegal activities and be focused since, as he put it, they still have a long way to go in life.
He further advised them to respect elders and put the knowledge gained into good practice. “I urge you not to be selective in searching for job,” he advised the students.
