The Tribune

THE second annual essay writing competition, organised by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in collaboration with The Nassau Institute and sponsored by the Templeton Religion Trust, took place at the Anatol Rodgers High School in New Providence. Some 70 students from a dozen different schools participated.

The contest was open to pupils in both private and public high schools who were enrolled in business studies programmes. They were required to write an essay in their own words under examination conditions on a subject based on the book “Economics in One Lesson” by renowned American economist Henry Hazlitt. This book was circulated in advance to the schools concerned for the students to read as preparation.

The competition was overseen for a second year by former British High Commissioner Peter Young in his capacity as a director of The Nassau Institute which originally put forward the idea in 2016 and has contributed to the funding of the project.

Speaking to The Tribune, Mr Young expressed gratitude on behalf of the institute to the Templeton Religion Trust for its support again this year and to the Ministry of Education for its efficient organisation of the event.

He praised, in particular, the work of Gwendolyn Johnson, the officer responsible for business studies at the ministry, together with the contributions of two former teachers at the Anatol Rodgers High School, Lakell Johnson and Samantha Keziah Knowles, who are now, respectively, at CR Walker Senior High School and Central Eleuthera High School in Palmetto Point.

Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded for the three best essays overall and the winner will also attend a three-day high school seminar on economics in the USA under the auspices of the Foundation for Economic Education in Atlanta, Georgia, with all expenses paid. There will be trophies for the students who produced the best essays in each school and each participant in the competition will receive an individual certificate of attendance. A prize giving ceremony will be arranged early next month.