The Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training launched the first ever honours society for public schools students on Monday.  Some of the qualifying criteria for admittance to the group include academic achievement, punctuality, civil society involvement and  attendance.

The first cohort was welcomed by Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, the Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin.  She told those gathered for the ceremony, “there’s a Latin phrase, it says ‘carpe diem’, seize the day, go ahead do what you have to do and all will stand and watch.”

During her presentation Hanna Martin also addressed young men who are being outpaced by their female counterparts.  She said, “boys being brilliant is very sexy.  All our great role models were brilliant men.   We have some women also but the great role models were brilliant men.  My father was one of them.   Brilliant men…listen, feel yourself, go with your strength and don’t let anyone stop you.”

Director of Education, Domonique McCartney-Russell was also in attendance.  She said that students will be mentored ahead of their official pining scheduled for 2026.  She also said during her remarks at the event, “we want to cultivate a culture achievement, setting standards of excellence.  We expect that you will be the role models, that you would inspire your peers to strive for similar achievements and of course you act as mentors to younger students.”

McCartney-Russell spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the event where she said, “we want to say to our parents, you know, we’re offering a good program.  We want to create an ideal education program that allows students to excel and leave them in public school and allow them to excel through the public school system and watch them flourish in this system.”