An Educationist and
Founder, Sit Down and Read Foundation, Dr. Ken Katas has challenged students to make determination their watchword in order to excel in their educational pursuits.
Katas who was the Guest Speaker at the Sixth Speech and Prize giving ceremony of Holy Rosary College, Port Harcourt, last Friday, altered that it takes determination for success to be recorded in every pursuits adding that for the students in particular, determination and hardwork remained the road to success.
Katas decried the lukewarm attitude and indecisiveness of students in their educational endevours, an act which he said had contributed to the reduced level of ‘outstanding’ students in recent times.
This is the five for change. It is the time for determination. We need determination to break the genes of academic failure and become those that would leave their footprints in the sands of times in the midst of our contemporaries and peers”, he said.
While noting that the training of determination is formed in the child during childhood, ketas called on parents to partner with schools and teachers to bring out the best in their children.
According to him, Schools or even teachers don’t do magic to train these children. Parents must play their roles perfectly beginning from the early years of the children. Parenting is not easy bt parents must train their wards and children to say ‘No’ to certain vices that are common among the children”.
Ketas maintained that it takes determination for students to be able to sit down and read for at least eight hours without standing up and to also comprehend what they read.
He charged the students to remain steadfast and focused in their academic guest and never to be carried away by the social activities in and around them.
“As your strive to gain admission into the University, you have to remain focused. The enticements of the University is tripled the ones you are seeing here but I urge you to go out there and not be enticed or cajoled into what is against your bright future. Just determine and you will make it,” Ketas said.
The educationist further commended the College for the honours accorded to the students by way of  awards describing it as a motivation not only to the students but parents as well.

Lady Godknows Ogbulu