Dr Claude Packer (right), principal of Mico University College, talks with Akiel Whyte, student of Grange Hill Primary School in Westmoreland, on his arrival with teacher Jacqueline Reynolds at the Terra Nova Hotel in St Andrew last week. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

Among the parish winners in the DPH National Primary Schools' Competition, there were only a few males. However, one stood out in both stature and performance.

Akiel Whyte, a 12-year-old of Grange Hill Primary in Westmoreland, was named the top student in the competition at a luncheon at the Terra Nova Hotel last Thursday.

Whyte was surprised to learn he had won the prestigious award from a total of 277 primary schools, a record number of entries this year.

"I felt excited because I know that I have put in everything," he said, while explaining he had to sacrifice cartoons and other programmes he loves to practise for the exam.

This, he said, was well worth it, and he is confident that everything will be good from here on. Whyte, who says he is inspired by Jamaican athlete Asafa Powell, received a standing ovation as he collected his trophy and cash award of $50,000.

This brilliant young mind is also intent on motivating others. He had a few words of encouragement for others who wish to enter the competition next year. "They must just be confident and believe in themselves that they can do it," he said.

Jacqueline Reynolds, the champion teacher who walked away with $25,000, said it was a relatively easy task preparing Whyte for the competition because he loves the subject.

Interest and dedication

"It wasn't difficult because he loves math. He has the interest and the dedication was there, so it was easy. I just introduced him to some high school math because he was doing well at the primary level, so that just in case when he goes to the exam anything that is new or unfamiliar, he wouldn't fall down."

She believes this formula was instrumental in Whyte's performance in the exam as he maintained an average of 96 per cent and scored 100 per cent in mathematics in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). Whyte has also performed well in his other subjects - scoring above 90 per cent - and 10 out of 12 for communication task, which earned him a place at The Manning's School.

Top five

The top five winners were separated by only half a percentage point. Aneath Mair of Dunrobin Primary and Tasheka Peterkin tied for second place with 95.5 per cent whereas four students shared fourth place with a score of 95 per cent.

Wayne Kirkpatrick, reading an address on behalf of the managing director for Lascelles Limited, Bruce Terrier, urged the Government to tackle the stigma that dogs so-called non-traditional secondary schools.

"It would be so much better if the authorities could find a way to make all high school placements equal, in some ways removing the barriers created by categorising some schools as 'traditional' and others as 'non-traditional'."