By Aisha Tamba
St Peter’s Technical Senior Secondary School on Friday held its 38th graduation ceremony since its establishment with 254 students for 2018, at the school ground.
The school principal Paul F Gomez said the image of the institution is a great and imposing one in the educational map of this country.
“The wonderful contribution it has made in the lives of young men and women since her establishment, she has aggressively produced and will continue to produce groups of young men and women of this lovely country who will ably take their respective positions in unreservedly serving this country and the world at large with pride,” he said.
He furthered that the school academic performance over the year under review has steadily and surely continued to move towards excellence.
“In 2017 the school registered two hundred and eleven (211) candidates to the west African senior school certificate examination (WASSCE). Out of these twenty- seven(27) scored credits in eight subjects, twenty- eight(28) of them scored credits in seven subjects, twenty-one (21) scored credits in six subjects and twenty- four (24) of them scored credits in five subjects.
“This means that one hundred and twenty -six (126) candidates had scores that can attain them entry to universities, this translates to 59.7% of total candidates. This result is a manifestation of the stringiest academic rigour that the students are subjected to in this school which has become an embedded culture. This helps us to always perform well in examinations. The cumulative work of teachers and students working hand in glove for a common purpose was what brought about these results.”
His words to the graduating students of the cohort 2018: “Dear students as you step out of the gates of St Peter’s, I have a strong conviction that you have been for a period of twelve years equipped with both the requisite information and moulding to go out and excel in life. You only need to be a visionary, focused and hardworking to achieve better in life. It was Long Fellow who once said ‘the heights that great men reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight. But they while their companions slept were toiling onward through the night’.
“There are a lot opportunities lying out there for you, you only need to be willing enough to exploit them and things will be okay for you. Do not join the group of youths sitting out there in spots called ‘strasser’, dreaming wildly and complaining that things are hard in The Gambia. Do avoid engaging yourselves in the sale or use of illicit drugs, they destroy and lead you to regret. Finally, I want to quote again ‘aspire to acquire what you desire. When you are tired, do not retire but refire, as attitude, aptitude and gratitude determine your latitude and fortitude among multitude,” he said.
The guest speaker Dr Margaret Ellis, said the theme of the graduation “Empowering youths for a better Africa” could not be more timely and appropriate for youth in our nation at this present moment.
“You are in line to receive the baton of leadership in this nation and continent of Africa. Therefore, it is important for you to understand the foundational truth about leadership. Leadership is not a title, it’s not a position, it’s not power. Leadership is simply influence and responsibility,” she said.
