The 13th edition of speech and prize-giving ceremony for the ninth graders of the school was supported by partners to the school from the Medical Research Council (MRC), International Trypanotolerance Centre (ITC), alumni association, and mothers club.
Invited guests witnessed presentation of prizes and certificates to outstanding students in different subjects and classes in recognition of their hard work and discipline during their course of study at the school.
In his welcoming remarks, the principal of Keneba Upper Basic, Alhagie M Dumbuya said fifteen years on, their school continues to prosper despite challenges.
The passing-out batch, he said brought the total number of the school’s former students to 1,265 since 1999 with most of them occupying meaningful positions in society.
He noted that since its inception, the school has been setting records although he did not elaborate. He recalled that the early years following the start of GABECE exams in the school was rough and challenging owing to limited human, material and financial resources.
“However, with determination and hard work on the side of the pupils and teachers, the school was able to hit its first ever jackpot of aggregate six that it had long craved for, exactly in the tenth year of GABECE for the school in 2012.”
The guest speaker of the occasion, Bubacarr Fatty, lecturer at the Management Development Institute (MDI), told the students: “You have the potential to be whoever you want to be if you work hard for it. The choice you make can make your life or break it. These include choices of friends, choices of course training and choices of career”, he said.
Ahead of their next academic level, Mr Fatty encouraged them to distinguish between preparation and pride. “If you are prepared, it means you have covered all the necessary areas of academia where you will be tested on, and if you are proud, it means you feel you know all when actually you do not”.
Convinced by the fact that most of the students are from poor backgrounds, he tasked them to apply what he called “self branding for visibility” for them to be seen as viable people.
The president of the ex-students association of the school, Ebrima Jobarteh, used the opportunity to invite the outgoing students to join their association. He informed them that the association was established to serve as a primary source of inspiration and guidance for its members on their academic careers.
On behalf of the sponsors of the various prizes, Michael Mendy, a staff of the MRC station at Keneba reminded the graduants of the high hopes bestowed in them. He told them, “You have come a long way from somewhere and you must have an aim to reach somewhere else.”
By Ebrima Bah in Mansakonko
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