The Methodist Preparatory and Kindergarten School (MPK) last Thursday held it seventh annual speech day and prize giving ceremony at the school’s grounds in Banjul.

Speaking on the theme Hard Work, the guest speaker of the occasion, Mrs. Gwendoline Cox, proprietress of Cox Creations, admonished the pupils to be obedient, decent and hardworking to become successful in life.

She noted that hard work requires a lot of efforts and time, while encouraging the children to avoid friends that could lead them into bad attitude.

In his report at the function, the Acting Head Teacher of the school, Mr. Samuel Y. Sarfo, said the school’s enrolment stood at 828 with forty-two staff members.

He said further that staff development workshops were being held periodically to inject new strategies into the teaching system and to equip teachers constantly with new teaching methods.

Referring to the school curriculum, he said, as enshrined in their motto, great emphasis is placed on quality education and competent staff with good teaching method and policy, which is why the school is excelling every year.

On moral and religious training, he said pupils were also given religious training to equip them to be self-disciplined, honest and morally sound.

“Children are taught comparative religion, embracing major beliefs in the world so as to develop respect and tolerance for other religions other than their own,” he said.

Mr. Sarfo also revealed that work on a new six-classroom block was in progress, adding that by the beginning of the next academic year the classroom block would be in use.

He also appealed to parents and donors to help the school management to fix up electricity and get the plumbing job done in the block under construction.

On sports and extra curricular activities, Mr. Sarfo said: “A healthy body is a healthy mind; as such physical education is very essential in the lives and affairs of the children.”

He added that the school held it inter-house competition on 26 April this year in which the Roach house (Red) emerged winners with 560 points followed by Stedman house (Blue) with 298 points, Stafford house (Green) scored 280 points and Pratt house (Blue) got 252 points.

He also appealed to the Board of the school to provide a full-time P.E. teacher for the school, saying that the BCC had withdrawn the personnel who was seconded to the school.

The MPK Head Teacher revealed in his report that the school also participated in the Annual Bible Week competition and secured 1st prize in quiz, 2nd prize in music, 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in poetry, 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in essay writing and 1st prize in drama.

The Head girl of the school, Maria Saine, delivered the vote of thanks.