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The Ministry of
Science, Technology |
From June 24th to June 29th, the Toco Composite School came alive with informative exhibits, awesome science shows, science and creativity workshops, public lectures and cultural performances, all designed to bring students and residents from Matelot to Matura more in touch and at home with Science and Technology.
Encouraged by the success of NIHERST’s first Community Science Week held in La Brea earlier this year, Toco was the second community to participate in this novel outreach programme that aims to make science and technology more exciting, understandable and relevant to rural communities.
Organised by NIHERST, in conjunction with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the community and the support of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education and the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs, "Toco Science Week" featured many special attractions including NIHERST's interactive science exhibition, YAPOLLO with its popular Planetarium, as well as exhibits by over 20 companies and governmental agencies in the thematic areas of - Construction, Agriculture & Environment, Health, Sports, and Careers & Entrepreneurship.
Career Day for secondary school students on Wednesday 25th June 2003 was particularly well attended and featured offerings by local tertiary education institutions, information on scholarships and financial assistance, as well as lectures on careers.
Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the Toco Science Week was held on Tuesday 24th July 2003 in the courtyard of the Toco Composite School, the venue for the weeklong science activities. A diverse cross section of the Toco community was represented at the function including the Member of Parliament for the Toco/Manzanilla area, the Honourable Roger Boynes, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs; Mr Michael Als, Founder and Project Director of the Toco Foundation; teachers and students from surrounding primary and secondary schools; community leaders and representatives of non-governmental groups.
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Maureen Manchouck, President NIHERST, Honourable Roger Boynes, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, |
Mrs Maureen Manchouck, President, NIHERST, in her official welcome to guests stated that this was yet another of NIHERST's pioneering projects to fulfil its mandate of promoting Science and Technology (S&T) throughout Trinidad and Tobago. She stated however, that the aim of the Community Science Week programme was not only the popularisation of S&T but, more importantly, the broad goal aimed to challenge the creativity and resolve of the community to assume greater responsibility for influencing the course of development in their area.
NIHERST was commended for this initiative by Mr Michael Als who was invited to deliver some remarks on behalf of the Toco Foundation. He expressed the belief that the hosting of the Toco Science Week would redound to the benefit of the people of Toco as it served to fill one of the many gaps in the education of the community.
Echoing a similar sentiment was Mrs Michelle Mischier-Boyd, who brought greetings on behalf of Senator, the Honourable Danny Montano, Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education. She further encouraged her audience to tap into the ever-increasing changes in the world of S&T and to embrace life long learning.
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Cultural skit, "What You Sow You Reap", by the Cumana Anglican Primary School students |
The feature address was delivered by the Honourable Minister Roger Boynes, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs and MP of the area who then went on to formally open the event.
The formalities closed with an outstanding cultural performance of a skit entitled "What You Sow You Reap" from the students of the Cumana Anglican Primary School.
Poster and Essay Competition
| Competition Results | |
| Winning Essay | |
| Winning Poster | |
| Winners List |
NIHERST congratulates Nichel Bishop and Ryan Grant both students of the Rampanalgas R C Primary School for copping first place in the Essay and Poster Competition respectively at the recently held Toco Community Science Week.
The competition, a major feature in the advent to the Science Week activities, challenged students to create a poster or to write an essay on the theme "Your Vision: Toco in the World of 2020". Students attending the eleven (11) primary schools and the three (3) secondary schools from Matura to Matelot were invited to participate. The pre-schoolers in the area were not forgotten as they were encouraged to take part by submitting entries on the same theme using any medium including craft.
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Having fun in the Regiment's booth
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The organisers of the competition were appreciative of the support for the competition from the Rampanalgas R C Primary school and the Toco Anglican Primary School, which produced the second and third prize winners in both competitions and also the Salybia Government Primary School whose entrant Christina Mahabir was awarded a Special Prize for her essay.
NIHERST specially thanks Mrs Mary St Bernard, a retired teacher of St Catherine's High School, Sangre Grande who had the unenviable task of judging the entries, and the sponsors of the prizes Lexicon Limited, Marketing and Distribution, Regal Products Limited, Republic Bank, Super 10 Store, and Kpharm Pharmacy for their generosity.
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