More than 150 A-level students graduate |15 May 2014

• Jigme Tsultrim Gaytso clinches President’s Cup

One hundred and fifty six (156) students from the School of Advanced Level Studies (Sals) who completed their studies last year have graduated.

The graduation ceremony was held yesterday at the International Conference Centre where Jigme Tsultrim Gaytso was bestowed with the President’s Cup.

The graduates have successfully completed the necessary requirements in the advance level course and they received their certificate of attendance and A-Level certificates in the presence of the Vice- President Danny Faure, Minister for Education Macsuzy Mondon, members of the National Assembly, chief executive of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) Vicky Van der Westhuizen, principal secretaries, acting principal of Sals Herve Young, lecturers and parents of the graduates.

“Seeing the graduates here is a proud moment for many of us in different ways. It is a happy occasion for the graduates because they are being rewarded for the completion of their studies; it is a proud moment for parents and guardians because their dreams of giving their sons and daughters a good education has finally come to fruition; and it is an achievement for the Ministry of Education and Sals because they have been successful in providing education to students who can now step forward confidently in life to build their respective careers,” Mr Young said in his address.

He also took the opportunity to congratulate the students on their success and left them with food for thought through the following quote from Martin Luther King Jr: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenges and controversy”.

The graduates sat external examinations in 15 different subjects and a certificate and a prize was presented to the best performer for each subject except for Travel and Tourism for which none of the students met the criteria for an award.
As students studied three to four subjects, there are students who have won more than one award for best performer. And the winners are Karen Bedier (Accounting, Business Studies), Thomas Sophola (Art and Design) Krithika Iyer (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics), Derick Albest (Computing), Meenakshi Rajasundaram (Economics), Andoniaina Rasoanomenjanahary (French), Joanne Lucas (Geography, English Literature), Salina Sinon (History, Sociology).

Students who gained straight A’s in their examinations won the Academic Excellence Award and for the year 2013 there were five students who qualified for this award – Karen Bedier, Ushna Dhanjee, Krithika Shankar Iyer, Meenakshi Rajasundaram and Salina Sinon.

There was also an award given to the student who has excelled in all A-Level examinations as well as in the entire subject’s component.  The Minister’s Cup and Gold Medal Award went to Krithika Iyer who has studied Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics.

New this year to the award list is the ‘Most improved Student Award’ introduced by the SNYC where it is given to the student who has shown remarkable improvement in attitude, performance and effort. And this award went to Dwayne Didon.

As President’s Cup Jigme won a trophy and a laptop sponsored by President James Michel, a scholarship by the Agency for National Human Resource Development (ANHRD), cash prizes and others.
Jigme, who has studied Biology, Chemistry and Physics, is also a black belt holder of the Combat Tang Soo Do style and has made Seychelles proud in international competitions.

“It is very hard to balance my studies and my extracurricular activities. But with willingness I have been able to achieve greatness. I am shocked to have received such award as I was not expecting it,” Jigme said.

“In the near future I would like to become a doctor as I know here in Seychelles we do need more doctors. I would like to advise my fellow colleagues who are still doing their studies to stay focused and keep away from drugs and alcohol. I do believe if you take up a sport, with your studies and the sport you have taken you will have no time for drugs and alcohol,” he added.

He took the opportunity to thank all those who have helped him won the President’s Cup especially his parents, his lecturers and all his friends.