I would like to turn my attention to the intention of the Government through the Ministry of Education to look at the feasibility of introducing CXC examinations at the Advanced Level. The Association of Principals of the Assisted Secondary Government Schools has produced a memorandum concerning their position in this matter. I quote - "We were asked to attend a meeting with the CXC Officials in the month of March of this year at the Learning Resource Centre. We were presented with the format of the examinations in the Modular design and we were quite impressed with the rationale for this new format and the way in which it would impact on students of varying abilities.

On further discussion at a meeting of the Association of Assisted Schools' Principals, the following points were noted with very grave concern, and with a consensus of agreement among the Principals.

Firstly, we felt that the world was a fast shrinking global village in which regionalism could impact negatively. There was also very grave concern, about the international recognition of a level of examinations that qualified persons for direct entry into Tertiary Institutions, especially when Examinations' bodies, such as Cambridge, Oxford and London, already existed with a long accepted international recognition, coupled with their long standing record of efficiency and consistency.

Secondly, these foreign based examination bodies operate on a purely business basis. They have tremendous research resources with all the necessary machinery and human resource already set in place to produce the best possible degree this type of background research because of very limited personnel, technology, funding and therefore, efficiency. It would lack the breadth and depth of scope that a developed country as the U.K. would have. Further, it has already been our experience that these foreign based examinations have offered and continue to offer a flexibility in accommodating topics that are specifically Caribbean and they have made a wonderful job of it.

Thirdly, because of the expertise that is already available and all the necessary technological and research paraphernalia at their disposal, the examination would not only be more efficiently formatted in its preparation, but the underlying cost would be significantly reduced. It is a fact that it costs the Government more to fund the CXC examinations than it would to fund the G.C.E., Oxford or London examinations at Ordinary level.

Fourthly, because of the very serious faux pas that has been our unfortunate experience over the last three years in the Ordinary level CXC examinations, there is a very serious lack of confidence in the Governing Body and in the international creditability of these examinations. There have also been security leaks and the sale of examination papers up to this very year. Any amount of assurances and promises for the future will do little to reduce the suspicion and lack of confidence of the public.

Fifthly, it is a very serious concern of the public, of students, parents, teachers and Principals that despite the fact that the CXC is a locally administered examination, that there has been a consistent failure on the part of CXC to release results early, and by this we mean by the end of the third week of August. As a follow up to this complaint, there is also the anomaly of the extremely late delivery of Certificates, which to date has normally been one year later. Cambridge, Oxford and London certificates are delivered within two months of the receipt of results.

Sixthly, the performance of CXC in the handling of queries of all types has been atrocious and totally unacceptable, especially in the light of the expeditious manner in which Cambridge, Oxford and London handle this matter in that queries are responded to within three weeks.

Seventh, with so many overwhelming negatives, we would seriously wonder if the only rationale for the justification for such a move is not a bit of an ego trip by those involved in supporting such a move. It must be remembered that CXC ordinary level examinations were imposed upon us, and I am not sure whether the benefits tailoring that they would have accommodated to our regional requirements.

We recognize the cry to be independent by some who may be carried away with their new found liberty and nationalism, but at the same time, we must be judicious in our choices of expression, if it means being different for the sake of being different without any reference to the limit of our resources, both human and economic.

At this point, 1 would like to turn your attention to another very contentious matter that involves both the Government, teachers, doctors and the civil service body in general. I would like to categorically state that the treatment being meted out by the C.P.O. as the mouthpiece of the Government is offensive, insulting and totally unacceptable, especially when you are not dealing with an emotional, ill-informed, uneducated , ignorant, inflexible union representative body. It is time that the Government recognizes that they are dealing with an educated and tolerant electorate who can be drawn to the bargaining table and that the economic and other cards can be squarely laid out and cut out the pussyfooting that can, and I dare say, will lead to an inevitable rough industrial action by all concerned.

The Government must commit itself to a definite, acceptable increase, even at the risk of stymieing the economic growth of the country on a temporary basis. The country does not belong to the Government, but to the people, and it is my feeling that they had better listen, and listen very carefully to what the electorate is saying. Thirteen years without an increase is intolerable, and I am sure that I am echoing not only my own sentiments, but those of many other Principals and teachers, when I say that we have had enough. We here at Presentation have been very slow in joining in any industrial action to date, but I want the public to know that we would be in full support if it came to a complete shut down of the schools of the country if swift and acceptable comprises are not arrived at.

The White Paper on Education has suggested that teachers should not be classified along with civil servants - and I dare say, that doctors should be handled in a similar manner. We are professionals with University degrees and competent teacher training and we deal directly with human persons and human lives. The financial rewards with all the ramifications of competent and qualified personnel that would want to stay in our professional institutions have to be seriously addressed once and for all. I dare say that this lumping of teachers and doctors with civil servants is part of the bugbear that is making it impossible to arrive at any reasonable and acceptable compromise at the bargaining table. I am a national, and I am aware of the financial restrictions that are faced by any Government, but we are looking at the complete shutdown of a civil service that includes not only Government offices, but schools and hospitals and other essential services. It would be a sad day for our country, but if it were to come to pass, I would lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Government of the day.

Finally, I am disappointed and saddened by some of the utterances of our Beloved Prime Minister. He would be much better off in keeping a discreet silence. I say this with the concern of a Principal for a past student who is incensing the public and the media unnecessarily, and I credit him with much greater wisdom and political sense than this.

Examination Results

We are once more pleased with our Advanced level results and apart form the usual number of distinctions in the many subjects offered, it was heartening to see a very solid result in Management of Business which was offered for the first time. There was an improvement in the number of distinctions in Chemistry and Accounts. Subjects in which the pass rate was above 80% were Further Maths with 95% with 20% distinctions; Mathematics -85.7% with 35% distinctions; Management of Business - 82.7% with 10% distinctions and Biology -

80% with 8% distinctions. There were 9 students with straight A's in all of their Principal subjects with one student, Ailan Knights having 4 A's in all of his Principal subjects. Four students were awarded Scholarships and these were: Rakesh Lal, who placed first in the Mathematics group and was awarded the Open Maths Schol; Reiaz Mohammed, who placed third in the Science Group, and Dernuson Dwarkah and Sheldon Rawlins, who both gained Further Additional Scholarships. It is interesting to note that Ailan Knights who gained 4 straight A's, placed 61st in the country and should be eventually awarded a Further Additional Scholarship, when a dropout occurs. Other Scholarship winners to Universities in the United States include Rakesh Lal - Uni. of Miami, Ainsley Welch - Peace Uni. (N.Y.), and the Florida Uni. of Technology; Ron Alleyne - Florida Inst. of Technology , Clarkson Uni. ~.Y.) and the Uni. of Tampa; Sheldon Rawlins - the Stevens Inst. of Technology ~.J.), and the Uni. of Rochester ~.Y.); Riaz Israel - the Florida Inst. of Tech.; Allister Beharry - Florida Inst. of Tech.; Clifford Radhay - Drexel Uni. (Penn); and Leigh Johnson -the Vanderbelt Uni. (Tenn); to mention but a few.

We were once again quite pleased with our Ordinary level results. There is still a concern in some areas, but we are trying our best to address these areas. 417 distinctions were recorded this year which is an improvement of 59 distinctions on last year's results -this is a new record for the College. Special mention must be made of English 'A' where there was a pass rate of 96.83% with 67 distinctions recorded. Other subjects where the overall pass rate was in excess of 90% were: Principles of Business - 95.8%; Physics -94.4%; Information Technology - 92.3%; Mathematics - 91.8% and Geography - 90.8%. The following students are worthy of commendation: Sean Rocke with 10 distinctions, Allistair Abraham with 9; Marion Medjord, Clint Raniasir, Shaun Ramroop and Shashi Dwarkah with 8; and Raul Aimey, Kevin Jaggernauth, Pravin Narine, Amit Paryag and Christian Rambissoon with 7 distinctions. I would like to congratulate both parents and Staff on a job well done.

The Maths Olympiad teams have again done us proud in winning the coveted Senior and Junior Team Trophies and placing first in both the Senior and Junior categories. Three of the six students chosen to represent the country at the International mathematics olympiad which was held in Bombay this year, were from Presentation College, San Fernando. Our students also did exceptionally well in the Maths Olympiad organized by the University of Waterloo this year. Our teams placed first in the International Category in the Descartes, Fermat and Cayley competitions. My congratulations to the Mathematics faculty in the persons of Mr. Lalla, Mr. Akalbo and Mr. Steven Khan.

Cadets continue to excel in a manner that is embarrassing to the other units of the Cadet Force. They have been once more adjudged the best Platoon in the island and will once more place a lien on the coveted Cadet Force Shield later this year. Once more my congratulations to Mr. Lance Dowrich, who has since been promoted to lull Lieutenant. The unit put on a drill display to music which would have been the highlight of any military parade any where in the world.

The scouts are a vibrant group with a total enrollment of 62, and this large number continues into this year as well. They were privileged to spend two wonderful weeks in Venezuela in July of this year and to win the District Chancellor Flag as well. The National Chancellor Flag competition has been in abeyance for two or three years now. Six of our scouts succeeded in attaining the President's Award - the highest possible award in scouting today. This replaces the Queen's Scout Award of yesteryear. The troop continues to enjoy a very healthy spirit.

The Junior Jaycees, the Legion of Mary, the Astronomy and the Biological Society continue to provide social and spiritual activity for many students, and the Student's Council continue to look after the needs of the student body. Mr. Anthony Lee Mack continues to hold Classes for the Ham Radio license on Thursdays at the College and many of our past students are involved if not at the helm of this society on a national level. It proves a useful means of keeping in touch with some of our groups and students who involve themselves in international and Caribbean based competitions and activities.

Our championship cricket team performed well in placing forth in the country in their first foray in this division, and our Under ~6 team have the distinction of being the National Champions. We are still the leading squash team in the country and we are also the Champion Badminton team in the country.

In football, we placed fourth in the South Championship zone last year, and this year we are first in the South Zone at the end of the first round of the league. Principals must take full blame for the exploitation that is happening at this level, with three games being played a week, and with a Big Eight competition that has no relevance that is forcing the league to complete its season into examination time at the end of the term. There is also the unexplained movement away from the zonal Intercol format, where at least at a zonal level some pride can be enjoyed in being the champions, apart from the early exit by some teams and the traveling expenses and tiring experience for the teams that remain to the end. It seems pointless to remind the Secondary Schools Football Council that they are dealing with students and not with professionals.

The music faculty once again put on an excellent performance at Christmas called "Blossom Time" based on the music of Franz Schubert, and it was well received at Naparima Bowl before General audiences and again in January for south schools at matinee shows. Students are still accommodated at Lee Chong's pan yard after school hours and for this we are grateful. A valiant effort is being made to expose students to a variety of instruments including the piano, violin, flute and the cello. We shall have pleasure of viewing the production of "Rock Nativity" and our Pres-Mixed and Junior Choirs and we are happy to bring Christ back into Christmas this year.

The Swimming Pool

If Trinidad didn't know that Presentation College has been dreaming of building a swimming pool for.the past twenty years, it was rudely awakened by blasts from explosions that not even we here at the College were prepared for - but in a way it was a welcome sound and it gave us a much needed publicity for a project that all of south should be interested in and supportive of Many are still wondering if it was another puff in the air and nothing will come of it. Let me assure you that were it not for the tremendous hardness of the rock real construction of the actual pool walls would have already started and past students and parents and well wishers who have pledged financial support would have been persecuted for their monies with much greater vigour than has obtained to date.

Presentation College also needs a gymnasium, the site of which is proposed to be that area north of the swimming pool complex, an area between the swimming pool and the sixth form block, and we could easily construct another squash court along the present building and kill two birds with one stone in correcting at the same time the incorrect measurements of the present court. Finally, it is acknowledged that we do need a football stand at our 8 acre ground at Union Hall. We are aware of all these needs, and we know that God is a good God and that San Fernandians are a generous people.

The Past Students' Association

Because of the call for general elections last year, it was not thought feasible to hold

our annual Dinner & Dance Award ceremony. We are hoping to honour Mr. Robert Montano this year, our honoree for last. year. The date set for the function is the 16^th November, and the venue is carded to be here at the College auditorium at 7.00 p.m. Mr. Paul Dallsingh is the incumbent President, the Vice President is Mr. Douglas Barzey, Mr John Ramkhellawan is the Secretary and Mr. Joel Edwards is the Treasurer.

To our Graduating Students

I have come to realise how tremendous an influence peer pressure can be. It can be so wholesome when it is for the good, but in reality, it is awesome, debilitating and devastating in the effects that it has for evil, and this is the area of greater influence. This being the case, greater is the responsibility of persons like yourselves who have had the privilege of being exposed to a quality education in the best sense of the word, to be the best support that you can be for your brothers and sisters who unwittingly or otherwise fall prey to the forces of darkness and evil and materialism in a world that would want to destroy, contaminate and suck you in on its euphoric wings of irresistible illicit sensual pleasures of all kinds and the heady wine of anarchical moral independence that can only ultimately lead to eternal destruction.

In Conclusion

I would like to give thanks to Almighty God for the inspiring experience that so many of the Presentation and Christian Brothers, and their associates had in their recent pilgrimage to Rome, to witness the canonization of our Founder, Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice. We were joined there by over 6,000 pilgrims form Ireland alone, since after all, Blessed Rice is an Irish saint, along with thousands of Poles and peoples of many other nationalities for the beatification ceremony that really was inclusive of 16 persons raised to sainthood in the square of St. Peter's that welcomed over 20,000 people on Sunday 6th of October, 1996. It is true that the Brothers have fulfilled the mission of Edmund in having reached out to so many thousands of poor and underprivileged youth over the past 150 years, but it is our fervent hope that this mission will be continued by the generous response of youths to join us in a work that is second to none - that is, the education of poor youth that are crippled not only on the physical but particularly on the moral level. Vocations to the Brotherhood have never been more urgent - so I beg of you to pray the Lord of the harvest that he may send worthy labourers into His vineyard.

I most sincerely thank His Grace the Archbishop and Bishop Mendes for their attendance here this afternoon. I thank my Academic, Technical, Office and Ground Staff for all their tremendous support over the year. A special thank you to the teachers and parents who were immediately involved with preparations of the Auditorium with all the beautiful floral and plant arrangements and the procurement and arrangement of trophies, medals and prizes for presentation to the students. Thank you, Fr. Martin for being the good College Chaplin that you are and finally, thank you specially invited guests, parents and students for your presence and continued support and prayers.

May God Bless You All.