ST JAMES, Jamaica — Some 130 students across 13 schools in western Jamaica participated in the Primary Schools Spanish Quiz Competition held on Thursday, March 18.

The decade old event, held for the first time virtually, was organized by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI) Region Four, with the intent of further generating interest in the foreign language among students at the primary level.

The competition featured four main quiz games, where questions were thrown out to students to answer in a free-for-all setting.

Hassan Smith of Savanna-la-Mar Primary in Westmoreland won Games one and four, whereas Kiandra McNab of Mount Airy Primary & Infant School in Westmoreland won Games two and three, the Ministry said. 

Addressing the event, Education Officer in the MOEYI Region Four, Patricia Mumby Lalor, noted that it is imperative that students develop their communication skills in Spanish, as well as broaden their knowledge of the language and culture.

“When we do track these students who have participated [in the quiz]…we realized that they performed so well not only in Spanish but in other areas,”  Mumby Lalor stated.

“We must express gratitude to our hardworking and committed teachers who year after year prepare the students to participate in these activities. Thank you teachers for laying the foundation,” she added.

For her part, Regional Director for the ministry’s Region Four, Dr Michelle Pinnock, congratulated the students on getting prepared for the competition.

“I want you to understand students that you are all winners. To the teachers, I say thank you very much for preparing these children. In this environment, I want to thank our education officers, in particular Mrs Lalor, for not dropping the ball. I want to say thank you very much for providing this opportunity for our students to showcase their competence in Spanish,” Dr Pinnock said.