Close to 50 students in South St Andrew are attending sixth form, the first time in the history of the constituency, according to Joan Spencer-Ernandez, a volunteer with the Primary Success in Reading Programme.

Speaking yesterday during the Rotary Club of Kingston's weekly luncheon, Spencer-Ernandez said the students who benefited from the reading programme have performed well in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and have moved on to further their studies.

In 2000, the programme was implemented in four South St Andrew schools - Boys' Town-All Age, Iris Gelly Primary, Jones Town Primary and Trench Town Primary - and at Central Branch All-Age in West Kingston (an institution where many students from South St Andrew attend school).

When the programme began, some 58 per cent of the children graduating from primary school were illiterate.

"We were highly successful in getting the youngsters to learn to read so, by the time they get to first form, they could access secondary education," said Spencer-Ernandez, who participated in the 'Rotary Leadership Initiative, Lunch with a Leader'.

Praising males

Meanwhile, Spencer-Ernandez said 72 per cent of the 45 boys in the constituency who sat the CSEC examinations this year, passed five or more subjects.

"I stand here as a female today, not praising my gender but praising males today because you hardly hear the praise; they outdid the girls," said Spencer-Ernandez, adding that 85 per cent of the boys passed four or more subjects.

Spencer-Ernandez said that, of the 46 girls who sat the CSEC, 59 per cent of them passed five or more subjects and 73 per cent passed four or more subjects.

Spencer-Ernandez said adults also participate in the programme, with a postman gaining grade one in English language.

"The possibilities are there to unearth. I ask you, give of your service above self and remember these youngsters," she charged Rotarians at the luncheon.

Seventeen-year-old Oshane Hamilton, of Kingston College, who passed 10 subjects with six distinctions and four credits, lauded the programme. According to Hamilton, it has helped him "stay on track".

Hamilton, who is from Rema, also attributed his success in CSEC to his hard work and dedication.