Winner of the DBS Radio, Courts sponsored National Reading competition, Jarett Jean Jacques, is encouraging more reading among boys.
“We need to help them work better,” he said. “They like to play around too much, they need to focus on their work.”
The St. Luke’s Primary School student was among only two males who made it to the finals of the competition held on Friday at the Arawak House of Culture. The other male student was Johnathan Honore of the Ebenezer SDA primary school.
He is also encouraging all to read more often.
“I would like to encourage both boys and girls to continue reading,” Jean Jacques said. “Reading will help them and it will take you places.”
He attributes his success to hard work.
“I am feeling very proud of myself, very happy,” he stated. “But I would first like to thank God for blessing me with this talent that I would be able to read so well. It took a lot of practice. I had to practice raising up my head, a critical aspect, and the criteria needed for this competition. It was hard work and I think the hard work paid off.”
He said he looks forward to representing his school in the OECS competition in Grenada and making “a name for my Jean Jacques family.”
Meantime Coordinator of the competition Felix Henderson said he was disappointed at the quality of the reading this year.
“It was like a roller coaster ride in the sense that you expect a certain level of competition.,” he stated. “And you expect coaches, parents to prepare their children for that competition. I was a little disappointed at first with the schools, with the quality of reading.”
He said schools should encourage more reading and even host competitions among classes.
“Then at the end when the big competition begins, it is basically an exhibition because you have been reading,” he noted. “So at the beginning it was a roller coaster ride until we got deeper into the competition where we saw the best readers coming through.”
He noted that there are schools that are already preparing their students for next year’s competition.
The competition is an annual event which is organized by DBS Radio in collaboration with Courts and the Ministry of Education.
Louise Aarons of Pioneer Prep came second and Anessa Laurent of Light House Christian Academy took third position, Nechante Leblanc of the Paix Bouche Primary School placed fourth.
The winner received a $2,000 cheque from Courts and will be representing Dominica at the regional reading competition in Grenada.
His school also received $2,000.
DNO the Paix Bouche child is Solika Dupigny NOT nichante
Congrats young man! Your sure are a bright light. Keep shining
4th place was Solika Dupigny of the Paix-Bouche Primary, Nechante came 5th.
Correction 4th place is Solika Dupigney of the Paix-Bouche Primary school