ASJA Boys College

Annual Graduation

16th September 2006

BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

We praise God Almight, the Compassionate, the Merciful and we send praise ad salutation on the soul of our Noble Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustapha - Pease Be Upon Him.

1. Mr. Reza Abasali - Chariman
2. The Hon. Diane Seukeran - Parliamentary Representative, San Fernando West and Minister of Industry and Trade
3. Haji Hyder Ali - 1st Vive President of ASJA Inc.
4. Ms. Joyce Barnett - School Supervisor III - Victoria
5. Mr. Faizal Ali - President of the ASJA Boys' College (PTA)
6. Dr. Balkaran Ramkissoon - Or Feature Speaker

Fellow Principals, Members of teh Educati Board and ASJA Incorporate, Specially invited guest, teachers, distinguished ladies and gentlemen and last but by no means least the graduates of the class of 2006.
I greet you with the Universal greetings of Islam Assalaam U Alaikum - Peace Be Unto You.

On behalf of the School administration, staff and students, I welcome all in our hall today on this very special occasion of our Annual Graduation and Prize Giving Ceremony. I now present to you a report of our achievements and experiences of the Academic Year 2005-2006.

This year Mr. Chairman marks our 46th years of existence as an instittion and 44th year on this compound. As a College we continue to recognize our role as one of the premier Boys' Muslim Secondary Schools in our twin Island state and in teh Denominational School system. As we approach our 50th year a landmark in any institution, this occasion s as much as casuse for celebration as well as reflection.

Today our graduates seated in the front is a testimony to the dedication and commitment of our predecessors, withing the Anjuman Sunnat Ul Jamaat Association, The ASJA Boys' College and the officers of teh Ministry of Education who collectively toiled to produce over the years productive and upright citizens of this beautiful country. Many parents, administratiors, teachers and students who worked to build a well respected and high performanc einstitution over the years and can feel justifiable proud of what we and th have achieved.

Mr. Chairman in a few shot moments I shall read for our audience some statistics of this year examinan results but before I do so I wish to share some thoughts that have come to me over hte years as Principal. Very often persons have said that this is a good school and there have been many occasions where I have questioned or accepted such comments as flatteringif only for the moment of one's personal gain or superficial design. But over the years I have come to appreciate the barometers of such sentiment. There is nothng greater in the education system that can comensate for the development of character. Thereafter is the noblest embodiment of human nature in it's highest form - it exhibits mankind at his/her best.

SUMMARY OF 2006 CXC RESULTS

Full Certificate (5+ Subjects) 83/105 > 80%

Although genius command admiration character must always secure respect. As genius relates to society in terms of its intellect character does so in terms of it's conscience. While the former is admired the latter is followed.

At ASJA Boys' College we are fortunate that over the years progress has been made in the developing an ethis of hardwork and commitment of duty. Every action, every thought, every feeling contribute to the education of the temper, the habits and the understanding and exercises inevitabl influence upon all acts of our future life. Unfortunately the successes of schools today very often are measured by statistics not always by the contributions of its students to community or national life and so in this regard I venture to report to you on our recent results.

ASJA Boys' Colleg wrote for the first time Unit 2 subjects of the CAPE exams. The results are shown above.

In it's own right ASJA Boys' College has produced not only students of genius but also students of character. It is reflected in daily life here at the College but just as the tide ebbs and flows so towe face the challenges of forces both internal and external that seek to cursh our missions as educators.

As I recollect from my address to a similar audience last year we live in a society where gross materialism, murder and anti-social behaviour are fast becoming norms and there is a lack of meaningful responsibility from those in charge to those who follow. Everyone knows what to do but there are many of those who lack the commitment zeal and dedication to do it.

This year Literature, Visual Art and Spanish wer not up to the standards of previos years, both Literature and Art securing below 50%.

This year Mr. Chariman we have 126 graduates and gained entry into the University of the West Indies. This is also an indicaton of our success as we prepare students for their future lives in thse competitive times. The development of a shcolarly attitude that brings such success is important for lifeling learning and national development. The School's administration recognizes its importance in planning, organizing and managing the educational establishment as a whole. Administration has to be a the core of the feasibility and comparative effectiveness of one educational programme as opposed to another or of one policy as contrasted to an alternative.

Over the years the administrative team at the College has developed programmes, policies and methods suitable to our environment. We believe education is an evolutionary process requiring the input and consensus of stakeholders in the system. This year we embarked upon a pilot programmed of internal clinical supervision for teachers and their respective departmetns. Over the next few months we hope to have four (4) teams participate unti it becomes a whole school poloicy.

Our Professional Staff Development was spread over a period to two (2) days this year and went a long in raising standards and consciousness about the critical role of teachers as learners their profession. Thanks for all our facilitators.

A team of Deans also participated in a Conflict Resolution Seminar which certainy helped to equip them with much needed strategies in teh discharge of their duties. We continue to be thankful to the Ministry of Education for their Workshops and Seminars that provide much needed information and training to our staff.

Also this year for the re-opening of school an Orientation Programme was held for all form levels to create awareness of new demands in their respective classes and to remind and renegotiate the expected behaviour as laid down in our Code of Conduct and School Rules. This was a novel approach to the start of the school year and seems to have in these earlys stages have had a calming effect in the school.

Mr. Chairman, such innovation would not be possible without committed and dedicated teachers. At ASJA Boys's College we are privileged to have such in the majority. Today I commend and than my Academic staff for their service. In addition I also take the opportunity to thank the Clerica, Library, OJT, and Ancillary staff for their contribution on a dialy basis which maintains the general well being of the school. Without their support the school cannot function in the smooth manner in which it does.

This year Mr. Chairman, we saw the resignation of Mr. Ashmead Edoo who was the acting Vice Principal. He was a teacher and administrator for the better of 24 years. Today we recognise his sterling contribution that he made in the education of our students. May Allah less him for his efforts and in his new life abroad. This year also saw the appoointment of Mr. Idris Khan to the post of Vice Principal to replace Mr. Edoo. Mr. Khan has since moved on to become the Principal of the ASJA Boys' College in Charlieville. In his relatively short stint here he worked diligently and professionally and we shich him all the best in his new appointment. This year we saw teh moving on of Mr. Rahan Abdool former Dean of Studies after years of dedicated service. His presence is certainly missed around the College and he has left an invaluable mark on the character of teh school. Ms. Prbha Jerrybandan also left as did Mr. Nishuad Mohammed who took up Geography Scholarship at Mona Jamaica. Ms. Naila Abraham has also left after serving a year's service. We continue to be fortunate to have Mr. Khalid Rahaman (former Maths Teacher) throught the PTA here of the school for the purpose of counseling our student body on a weekly basis.

Congratulations to Mr. Nessa Khan and Mr. Ashmead Ali who repectively completed teh Diploma and Masters in Education Programmes and Mr. Yazid Baksh who was in the first batch of teachers to complete the Technology Education Diploma offered by the Ministry of Education.

Mr. Chairman, it has now become a yearly cry from me as Principal as we once again beg the removal to a compound that will cater to the full range of demands of our students. Physically we continue to sputter around in cramped conditions miraculously gaining results whre conditions dictate otherwise. In lights of the new thrusts in education we need additional labs, storage, playing fields and classroom spaces. This aside, the College is mindful of its spiritual and religious duty to our students.

On our Curriculum Moral Education and Religious Knowledge is taught through a Departmental structure programme. Prayer is an integral part of our Daily Assembly. Jumma Namaaz on Fridays and Zohar prayer at lunchtime is part of the daily routine of school life. Islamic festivals and observances are structured into a school programme that the wider community can be proud of. The school continues to have our students write Islamiyat - Cambridge 'O' Level Islamic Religious Knowledge. This year we secured a 67% pass rate with some of our non-muslim students performing very well. This moral fibre may provide teh platform for further action as academics aside we participate in many sporting and community events. Our Form 6 students, Rajiv Sookoo won a Goverment sponsored scholarship to attend the Global Young Leaders Conference in the United States. Our Form 6 Guardian Essay Writing Competition. We participated in teh Model United Nations Assembly, Scrabble Chess, Football, Cricket, Vollellyball, athletics, Junior Achievers and Environmental awareness. Our Students continued to provide a strong showing in the maths olympiad. Special mention going to Steve Ramnarace and Leon Budrie. Ravi Jagroop a Form 6 student was a finalist in the Mastana Bahar competition and placed.........

Mr. Chariman, we were only informed yesterday that a project undertaken by our Dean, Mr. Faeid Ali and students from 3S who participated in a short film competition during the July/August vacation were selected as one of the top 5 finalists from all submissions received from around the country. This was sponsored by Multi-Cinemas Limited at Movie Towne and is indicative of teh Scope of talent at ASJA Boys' College
Congratulations to all involved.. Co-Curricula activities foster self confidence, teamwork, discipliine, commitment, perseverance, time management and the like. This nexus is found at teh Third ASJA Sea Scouts led by Mr. Z. Shah and Mr. Roger Ali continue to do the school proud. This year they organized camps in Cedros, Santa Cruz and Barbados and hiked at Matelot, Blanchicheusse and Cedros. Five (5) of our scouts received President Awards and the Scout Band is well recognized for their contributions to numerous sporting and social events. This year their Father's Day concert was well attened by parents and well wishers. We thank the parents of these fine young men for the interest and enthusiasm they showed in their sons lives. This School, Mr. Chairman, realizes that we cannot achieve much without developing partnerships with our community. Rapid change, inadequate funding and increased demands means that schools must creatively tap into the wealth of resources that the community has. The school recognizes that there are many ideas, good ones that lie beyound the administratio and staff.

Our Schools' PTA continues to function for the benefit of our students through the Class Councils. Activities recorded where the refurbishment of classrooms, the 3 day camp on attitudinal development held by Form 2A parental networking of 3S and the conflict resolution of the 2S parental group are just some of the examples of parents taking the initiative to support and go beyond the Teachers of the school. Their Annual Fund Raiser Choka Fest is an event well received not only for culinary delights on show but the comraderie and fellowship of the member. Such creativity and commitment are the hallmark of a successful school. We mus tsustain and encourage this vital aspect of school life. I wich to take the opportunity to thank all the Executive Members of the PTA and the leadership of the class Concils for their efforts. A special note of thanks to Mr. Colin Jahoor past President, for all the work he has done over the past two years.

Mr. Chairman, every year for the Graduation Exercise I continue int delivering myself that I can give short report for our graduation. But for a 'small' school we are big on activities nevertheless I have saved my final comments for these special persons to the front of us/the graduation of 2006.

Congratulations on your achievements, your sacrifices were not in vain. But remember your lessons from these sacrifices. Hard work, discipline and commitment saw you through the fire. These qualities you learnt will see you throught th erest of your life as you fulfill your dreams. To get to the next side of a river we can walk on the water, swim through it or sail across. Make your choces carefully and wisely. Always respect and care for your parents as you will expect your children to care for you. Remember God in all that you do. Prayer brings us closer to who we are and what we do. Fulfill the purpose of your life. While enjoying it. Remember to kep the spirit of imagination alive! Don't be afraid of a criticism. More than likely if yo uhav eno cirtics you'll likely have no success! Be dependable and reliable. Responsibility means what is expected of you. All of you are a gift to this universe and whereever you go do something positive to benefit those around you. Be charitable and kind to those less fortunate than yourselves. Be conscientious. Kepp friends, they multiply joys and divide giref and finally find happiness in what you do. I wish all success to your new endeavors.

Mr. Chairman, this has been a comprehensive report I trust that I have been able to stisfactorily deliver on behalf of my staff a condensed version of all that was one for the academic year 2005-2006. We will continue to commit ourselves to God, our school and our students in the year ahead with the prayer that Allah Subhanu Wa Taala in his infinite mercy would continue to bless and guide us along the path of Siraatul Mustiqeen.

Mr. Chariman, Ladies and Gentlemen
I thank you.

Alhamdullilah - Praise be to God

Assaalaam U Alaikum.

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