From Guyana Times 15 December, 2011
The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission ( GGMC) on Tuesday awarded the winners of its just- concluded Secondary Schools’ Science and Technology Quiz at a ceremony hosted at the Ocean View International Hotel, East Coast Demerara.
GMC’s chairman, Major General ( retired) Joseph Singh said that the objectives of the quiz are to encourage and engage students pursuing studies in the science and technology fields at the secondary level to develop a more in- depth approach to research and studies in science, mathematics and the geo- sciences.
“ It also has the objective of creating greater awareness and to provide strategic information to students who are interested in pursuing careers in the above subject areas,” Singh said. Acting GGMC Commissioner Karen Livan said that the prizes serve only as an incentive to those who would have participated in and won the competition.
“ Mining and petroleum industries are growing areas in Guyana… We are encouraging investors and practitioners to become involved in exploration and mining activities… We are at a stage where these industries are poised to take off… This will offer new and interesting careers and opportunities in the field of science and tech nology,” Livan said.
GGMC, pursuant to its role in promoting awareness and education of Science, technology, mining and the geo- sciences, has initiated this quiz for students in the science and technology fields at the fifth form level.
The schools which participated in the 2011 competition were Queen’s College, St Roses High, St Joseph’s High, Three Miles Secondary, Zeeburg Secondary, Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary, Berbice High, Bishops’ High, North West Secondary, West Demerara Secondary, Bygeval Secondary, Central Corentyne Secondary, President’s College, Abrams Zuil Secondary and Central High. The finalists were Queen’s College and Bishops’ High School.
At the award ceremony, each contestant from the Berbice High School, Three Miles Secondary, Bygeval Secondary and Central Corentyne Secondary were given consolation prizes of book vouchers valued $ 5000 each and certificates. Each contestant from the Queen’s College team was given a trophy, a book voucher val ued $ 10,000 and a certificate of participation, whilst each contestant from the winning team was given a trophy, a book voucher valued $ 25,000, along with a computer system. Kaleshwar Singh from the Bishops’ High School was awarded a special prize for being the top scoring- secondary student, and received another book voucher valued $ 10,000.
