NEGRIL, Westmoreland— It was an emotional and joy-filled evening at the Rayon Hotel in the resort town of Negril last Thursday when Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett hosted a reception for first-time victors of the Television Jamaica Schools’ Challenge Quiz, Mount Airy Primary and Infant School, and beaten finalist Broughton Primary School, both from the parish of Westmoreland.

“I think today (last Thursday) was really extraordinary. We were not expecting it, and I think it was really a great gesture for the minister of tourism to see it fit to show his appreciation for our success. It is really, really good, and I hope other stakeholders could see and join him,” expressed an elated Karen Anderson McKenzie, principal of Mount Airy Primary and Infant School.

Marva Davis Clarke, principal of Broughton Primary School, expressed a similar opinion.

“When I came in the room and I saw this lovely setting and realised that the minister of tourism did all this for us, I was really very happy. It is good when you work hard and you are shown appreciation. Sometimes it’s just the teachers and the students who get the recognition, but to know that the parents were invited here, it really felt good,” Davis Clarke told the Jamaica Observer West following the function.

Several students as well as parents also expressed gratitude for the kind gesture by Minister Bartlett.

During the reception, teachers, members of the quiz team from both schools, and their parents, were treated to a sumptuous dinner and gifts.

Bartlett, a native of Westmoreland, in his remarks announced that four scholarships from his St James East Central Constituency Scholarship Fund are to be awarded to a boy and girl from both schools.

“I want to make an extended offer, as a Westmorelite, to two students from Broughton and two from Mount Airy, a boy and a girl. And, the principals will decide who those two are on the basis of their scholastic performance, but also on the basis of need,” said Bartlett.

“This will cover entrance into high school, and we will cover their requirements for whether it is Manning’s [School], Munro [College], Cornwall College or whichever…, and then, we will invite them to come to Montego Bay when we have our (St James East Central Scholarship Fund) awards, and they will be special guests of our students.”

Bartlett also stated that depending on the outcome of consultations with his constituency team, he may also be able to provide scholarships for teachers under his constituency teachers’ scholarship programme.