radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Despite the setbacks of COVID-19, Cedar Grove Private school principal Shaheed Allaham yesterday urged students to take personal responsibility for their education by working harder than ever during the pandemic.
Allaham, who was speaking at the school’s 2021 virtual graduation ceremony, told the students to never settle for mediocrity and to find a way to generate success despite adversity.
“As you would realise, the global pandemic COVID-19 has forced us to resort to virtual graduation. The world has changed due to this global pandemic and we now have to adjust to a ‘new normal,” he said.
“From all looks of things, it will be here for a very long time, so it is something we have to live with—how we learn, how we interact with people, places we visit, how we socialise with people, a consciousness of our personal hygiene.”
Allaham said despite the setbacks, students still managed to do well.
“SEA students of 2021 have gone through many trying times in your preparations. You had to stay away from school for one year and a term but at least you learned and experienced what online teaching was, which is the global trend now,” he said.
He said their SEA preparations could be described as disadvantageous.
“You would have missed that one-to-one contact with your class teacher, which is very important in the teaching/learning process. The actual timing for your practice tests in the three tested areas could have been compromised and be very subjective. It was your honesty and integrity to determine the validity of the testing,” he said.
“You also missed the peer tutoring and learning with your friends, which always helped the weaker students in their SEA preparation.”
Allaham told students that as they enter secondary school, they must focus.
“You will have to be more responsible and take full control of the teaching/learning process. Much of what you learn and how you learn will be your personal responsibility, so your role in your education will have greater importance and more focus on the self and less on the teacher,” he said.
He added that although COVID-19 has put a damper on extra-curricular activities, the school emerged successful in several areas.
Cricketer Samuel Badree told the graduates it was important for them to remain socially active by interacting with family members. He also reminded them to always be good and humble.
“It is good to be important but it is more important to be good. Be good students, be good friends, good classmates and be good citizens of sweet T&T,” he added.
This is the second year the school had virtual graduation.
