SXMElections.com

~Alliance, OSPP encourage students~

PHILIPSBURG--Thousands of students, teachers and school staffers will be returning to school today, Monday, for the start of the new 2015-2016 academic year.

The roads are expected to be busy. In a back-to-school message National Alliance (NA) Deputy Leader Silveria Jacobs urged students to make school their priority and to do their utmost to learn something new daily as well as build character and practice respect. She said it is a “great opportunity” to be able to go to school. “We urge all students to make good use of the opportunity for education, to ask pertinent questions, complete assignments on time, read as much as possible, do research, and prepare well for all tests,” Jacobs said.

“Your success will be yours individually, your parents', your teachers', your schools' and St. Maarten's as well.” She urged students to use education to change their circumstances, neighbourhood and St. Maarten. NA extended best wishes for success to all students returning to school as well as to all those returning to school abroad to further their respective studies.

In its message One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP) said as a young nation, St. Maarten has to continue to motivate and encourage its youngsters to study hard “as they will have to lead this country sometime in the near future.”

“Students hear on a yearly basis from their parents and teachers the importance of education. They tend to take it for granted for most of them believe that it is the duties of parents and teachers to tell them how important education is for their future.”

OSPP proposed organising motivational speeches at schools after the first month that school has resumed. “These motivational speeches are to be done by our community leaders, businesses and other professionals in our community. Let our students hear from somebody else other than their parents, teachers and religious leaders the importance of education. Let them understand that to be good at anything in life you must practice, practice and practice,” OSPP said. “In school be attentive in classes, do your homework and the rest will fall in place. Going to school can never be boring; it is what you make out of it.”