ST.
STANISLAUS COLLEGE
PRINCIPAL’S
REPORT
ANNUAL GRADUATION &
PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY
Tuesday 27th
November, 2018
National Cultural
Centre
INTRODUCTION
Major General
(Retired), Mr. Joseph Singh
Director of Field Implementation at Conservation International, Mr. Rene′ Edwards
Assistant Chief Education Officer (Secondary), Mrs.
June-Ann Gonsalves
Principal Education Officer, Mr. Emmanuel
Bridgewater
Other officials of the Ministry of Education
Chairman of St. Stanislaus College Board of Governors,
Mr. Chris Fernandes
President of St. Stanislaus College Parent Teachers Association,
Mr. Zulphicar Hussain
President St Stanislaus College Local Alumni
Association, Mr. Kashir Khan
Immediate Past Principal of St. Stanislaus College,
Mrs. Paulette Merell
Special invitees, Members of Staff, Graduands,
Students and our most worthy Chairperson for today’s ceremony, Mr. Renaldo
Fleming
A pleasant Good Day to you all and Welcome to this auspicious
occasion:
St. Stanislaus College
Annual Graduation and Prize Giving Ceremony
Mr. Chairman,
I have the honour in presenting to
this gathering of stakeholders, the Principal’s Report for the academic year,
September 2017 to July 2018.
This report seeks to enlighten us
on our Achievements. It also
highlights some Challenges and Projections for the future.
The report has been divided into
seven key areas namely;
1. Student
Enrolment
2. Staffing
3. Curriculum
and External Examinations
4. Co
and Extra Curricular Activities
5. Community
Alliance
6. Challenges
7. Projections
STUDENT ENROLMENT
The
academic year began in September, 2017 with a total student population of Five Hundred and Forty Six (546) students.
There were Two Hundred and Sixty Six
(266) males and two Hundred and Seventy Nine (279) females. The average
number of students per class was thirty (30).
For the period under review, the
admission of students to the college was based on the placement of students by
the Ministry of Education.
·
One Hundred and Ten
(110) students from the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) comprising of
Fifty Six (56) males and Fifty Four (54) females were admitted
to Grade Seven.
·
Based on CXC-CSEC, 2017
results, Forty Four (44) students were admitted to Grade 12
to pursue CAPE. There were Twenty (20)
males and Twenty Four (24) females.
STAFFING
Mr. Chairman,
The school year commenced with Thirty Eight (38) teachers that
included:
·
One Graduate Principal
·
One Graduate Deputy Principal
·
Three Graduate Senior
Mistresses
·
Eight Graduate Heads of
Departments
·
One Graduate Senior
Assistant Master
·
One Senior Assistant
Mistress
·
Ten Trained Graduates
·
Three Assistant
Mistresses
·
Four Untrained
Graduates
·
Three Temporary
Qualified Masters
·
One Temporary
Unqualified Master and
·
Two Temporary Assistant
Master/Mistress (Retired/Rehired)
Part-time teachers were recruited to
assist in the implementation of the curriculum. They were:
·
Mr.
Dinband Khusial, who taught Additional Mathematics
and Pure Mathematics to our Fourth and Sixth Forms Students respectfully.
·
Mr.
Jemuel Parasram, who taught Business Studies and
Office Administration at Grades 9 and 10 respectively.
APPOINTMENTS/RESIGNATIONS
Two
teachers joined the staff in September, 2017:
·
Ms. Simone Rodney, a
Trained Graduate Mistress, specializing in English A and Literature;
·
Ms. Esther Persico, a
Temporary Assistant Mistress Retired, a French and Portuguese specialist.
During
the academic year under review, we lost four (4) staff members:
·
Ms. Dorey Allicock,
Senior Assistant Mistress, was transferred to New Silvercity Secondary, Region
10;
·
Ms. Alicia Gobin,
Graduate Assistant Mistress, resigned with effect from 20th
September, 2017;
·
Ms. Fiano Cooke,
Assistant Mistress, resigned with effect from the 1st March, 2018;
·
Mrs. Paulette Merell,
Graduate Headmistress, retired with effect from 31st January, 2018.
To Mrs. Merell, it gives me great pleasure to say that we are thankful for all
the valuable skills and knowledge you have imparted to us teachers and students
and sincerely appreciate all your efforts and hard work.
On behalf of the staff and students, I
wish to thank these teachers for their services rendered to the College and do
wish them well in their future endeavours.
Also,
during the year under review, two teachers graduated from the University of
Guyana with the following:
·
Fazia Baksh, Master of
Education, Curriculum and Instruction– yours truly and ;
·
Komaldai Ramsewak,
Bachelor of Education, Spanish.
The
Ancillary Staff continued to give
valuable service to the College. This staff comprised:
a) Two
Typist Clerks
b) Two
Accounts Clerks
c) One
Librarian
d) An
Information Technology Technician
e) Three
Science Laboratory Assistants
f) Three
Sweeper/Cleaners
g) A
Caretaker
h) A
Groundsman, located at the St. Stanislaus College Ground, Carifesta Avenue.
THE
CURRICULUM
Honourable Chairman,
St.
Stanislaus College continued to offer a broad-based curriculum to the students
through Eleven Departments, namely:
1. Agricultural
Science
2. Allied
Arts
3. Business
Education
4. English
5. Home
Economics
6. Industrial
Technology
7. Information
Technology
8. Mathematics
9. Modern
Languages
10.
Science
11.
Social Studies
At Grades
Seven and Eight, all the subjects taught were compulsory.
At Grade Nine, students were
introduced to additional subject areas namely, Business Studies, History,
Geography and the separate Sciences; Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
In
June, 2018, Eighty-four (84)
students wrote the National Grade Nine Assessment Examination in the four core
subjects. These being:
1. English
Language
2. Mathematics
3. Science
and
4. Social
Studies
An
analysis of this assessment results, revealed that all eighty four (84) students who sat the examination achieved the pass
rate above 64%. Sixty one students gained above 70%. Our Top Performers were:
Name of Student
|
Percent
|
Kayla
December
|
86.6%,
|
Ghansham
Allijohn
|
82.8%
|
Jahrol
London
|
81.9%
|
Macasey
Barclay
|
81.6%
|
Datina
Nials
|
80.9%
|
Lianna
Adrian
|
80.7%
|
Ganesh
Dukhi
|
80.4%
|
Preiola
Patterson
|
80.3%
|
Michellea
Dowlin
|
80.2%
|
The College Administration and Staff
extend Congratulations to these students and wish that they continue to strive
for excellence.
At
Grade Ten, students were
allocated to one of the four streams at the college, depending on their ability,
aptitude and career interest.
The
total number of students who opted for the streams were as follows:
1.
Arts Stream- Fifteen (15) students
2.
Business Stream- Twenty (20)
students
3.
Science Stream- Thirty Five (35)
students
4.
Technical Stream - Sixteen (16)
students
Students pursued a maximum of ten (10) subjects in each stream.
English Language, English Literature and Mathematics, and one foreign language
were compulsory across all Streams.
At Grade
Eleven, all students wrote the Caribbean Examinations Council
(CXC)- Caribbean Education Certificate Examinations (CSEC). A maximum of
fifteen (15) subjects were written.
For
Grade Twelve, students who
gained at least Five (5) CSEC subjects including English A and Mathematics,
with Grades I to III were offered a place to pursue studies for the Caribbean
Advanced Proficiency Examination. Forty
four (44) students were admitted for this programme and placed into one of
two streams: Natural Sciences and Environmental Studies.
EXTERNAL
EXAMINATIONS RESULTS, 2018
Caribbean
Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Results
Esteemed
Chairman and Audience,
The academic performance of our
students at the CXC-CSEC 2018 was excellent.
A brief analysis of the results
revealed that:
·
Students wrote twenty six (26) subjects at this
examination. The overall percent passes gained for Grades One to Three was 96.26%.
·
Out of the Ninety Eight (98) Grade Eleven students
who wrote the CSEC examination One
Hundred percent (100%) of them matriculated. This means that all of our
students got Grades One to Three in at least five subjects, including English A
and Mathematics.
·
There were Four Hundred and Sixty Nine (469) Grade
Ones, Three Hundred and Sixty (360) Grade
Twos and One Hundred and Twenty Four (124)
Grade Threes.
St. Stanislaus College, CXC-CSEC
2018 results read as follows:
Subjects
|
Percentage
passes Grades 1-3
|
Additional
Mathematics
|
58%
|
Agricultural Science
|
100%
|
Biology
|
97%
|
Caribbean History
|
100%
|
Chemistry
|
82%
|
Economics
|
100%
|
Electrical and
Electronic Technology
|
100%
|
Electronic Document
Preparation and Management
|
100%
|
English A
|
100%
|
English B
|
100%
|
Food, Nutritional and
Health (Technical)
|
100%
|
French
|
79%
|
Geography
|
100%
|
Human and Social
Biology
|
100%
|
Information Technology
|
100%
|
Integrated Science
|
100%
|
Mathematics
|
100%
|
Office Administration
|
100%
|
Physical Education
and Sports
|
100%
|
Physics
|
97%
|
Portuguese
|
100%
|
Principles of
Accounts
|
97%
|
Principles of
Business
|
100%
|
Social Studies
|
98%
|
Spanish
|
69%
|
Technical Drawing
|
100%
|
The Top
Performer for CSEC 2018 is SHRELOCK
LANGEVINE, a Science student who gained Fourteen Grade Ones in fourteen
subjects. Those subjects were:
Subjects
|
Grades
|
Additional
Mathematics
|
1
|
Agricultural Science
(DA)
|
1 Distinction (DA)
|
Biology
|
1 Distinction
|
Chemistry
|
1 Distinction
|
EDPM
|
1 Distinction
|
English A
|
1 Distinction
|
English B
|
1
|
Food, Nutrition &
Health (Technical)
|
1 Distinction
|
Geography
|
1 Distinction
|
Human and Social
Biology
|
1 Distinction
|
Information
Technology
|
1
|
Mathematics (General)
|
1 Distinction
|
Physics
|
1 Distinction
|
Excellent Performance Sherlock! You
are proof of that “Excellence is not a skill, it's an attitude.” We look
forward to seeing more blessings come your way in the near future. A round of applause for Sherlock Langevine!
Honorable
Chairman,
There
were also several other students with outstanding recorded performances at the
CXC- CSEC 2018. These were:
Name
of Student
|
Grades
|
|
1
|
Amarnauth Narain
|
Twelve Grade Ones and
Three Grade Twos
|
2
|
Tassia Bacchus
|
Eleven Grade Ones and
One Grade Two
|
3
|
Nathan Hackett
|
Ten Grade Ones
|
4
|
Nectar Prince
|
Ten Grade Ones and
Two Grade Twos
|
5
|
Eleesha Sanasie
|
Ten Grade Ones and One Grade Two
|
6
|
Ryan Khan
|
Nine Grade Ones and
Four Grade Twos
|
7
|
Nia Williams
|
Nine Grade Ones and Four
Grade Twos
|
8
|
Lennox Hopkinson
|
Nine Grade Ones and
One Grade Two
|
9
|
Shekeira Taitt
|
Nine Grade Ones and
One Grade Two
|
10
|
Julia Williams
|
Nine Grade Ones and
One Grade Two
|
Caribbean
Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) Results
Esteemed
Chairman and Audience,
There
were Twenty-three (23) Units offered in Sixteen
(16) subject areas. The overall passes
for Grades I to V was 96%. St. Stanislaus College CXC – CAPE 2018 Results read
as follows:
Subjects
|
Percent
Passes - Grades I to V
|
|
1.
|
Accounting Unit 2
|
100 %
|
2.
|
Animation & Game
Design
|
100%
|
3.
|
Biology Unit 1
|
94%
|
4.
|
Biology Unit 2
|
100%
|
5.
|
Caribbean Studies
|
100 %
|
6.
|
Chemistry Unit 1
|
97%
|
7.
|
Chemistry Unit 2
|
100 %
|
8.
|
Communication Studies
|
100 %
|
9.
|
Computer Science Unit
2
|
50%
|
10.
|
Digital Media Unit 2
|
100 %
|
11.
|
Entrepreneurship Unit
2
|
100%
|
12.
|
Environmental Studies
Unit 1
|
100%
|
13.
|
Environmental Science
Unit 2
|
100%
|
14.
|
Geography Unit 1
|
100%
|
15.
|
Geography Unit 2
|
100%
|
16.
|
Information
Technology Unit 1
|
100%
|
17.
|
Information Technology
Unit 2
|
100%
|
18.
|
Integrated Math
|
100%
|
19.
|
Management of
Business Unit 2
|
100%
|
20.
|
Physics Unit 1
|
100%
|
21.
|
Physics Unit 2
|
100%
|
22.
|
Pure Math Unit 1
|
77%
|
23.
|
Pure Math Unit 2
|
100%
|
Our
Top CAPE Performer for 2018 is Rashma Surjnarine. She gained Eight (8) Grade
Ones and Three Grade Twos for the CAPE for Units I and 2. Her results are as
follows:
Subjects
|
Grades
|
Biology Unit 1
|
1
|
Biology Unit 2
|
1
|
Caribbean Studies
|
1
|
Chemistry Unit 1
|
1
|
Chemistry Unit 2
|
1
|
Communication Studies
|
2
|
Environmental Studies
Unit 1
|
2
|
Environmental Studies
Unit 2
|
1
|
Integrated
Mathematics
|
1
|
Pure Math Unit 1
|
2
|
Pure Mathematics Unit
2
|
1
|
There
were also several other students with outstanding recorded performances at the
CAPE 2018. These students are:
Name
of Student
|
Grades
|
|
1
|
Reya Persaud
|
Six Grade Ones and
Three Grade Twos
|
2
|
Aleah Marks
|
Four Grade Ones and
Five Grade Two
|
3
|
Lashonda Kellman
|
Four Grade Ones,
Three Grade Twos and Two Grade Threes
|
4
|
Shania Reece
|
Four Grade Ones, Two
Grade Twos and Two Grade Threes
|
5
|
Tamara Cummings
|
Four Grade Ones and
Six Grade Threes
|
6
|
Chelsea James
|
Three Grade Ones and
Six Grade Twos
|
According
to Confucius, “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your
full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal
excellence.”
CO AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES
Mr.
Chairman,
The main purpose of education isn't
just to receive a certification that leads to a career, but for each individual
to become well-rounded person in so many aspects of life. With this in view, we
here at St. Stanislaus College pursue a vigorous co and extra-curricular
programme.
A major highlight was our Annual Inter House Championships which
were held in September, 2017. The results were as follows:
·
Galton House, with Mr.
Damian LaRose at the helm, emerged champions with 884 points.
·
Etheridge House, led by
House Master Bonni Adonis, placed second with 881points.
·
Weld House, led by
House Master Colin Moses, placed third with 854 points.
·
Butler House, led by
House Mistress Vaunda Wayne – Francis, was forth, with 835 points.
Our Champion Athletes were:
a) Trevon
Boston- Junior Champion Boy (Etheridge House)
b) Jeremiah
Sampson- Senior Champion Boy (Etheridge House)
c) Chelsea
Inniss- Junior Champion Girl (Butler House)
d) Celine
Paul- Senior Champion Girl (Galton House)
Congratulations are extended to all
House Captains, House Masters, Mistresses and students who ensured that this
activity was spectacular and remained a memorable event. Special thanks to our
Games Master Robert Fernandes, who dedicated time and effort to ensure that Inter-House
Sports at Saints continue to be of high standards.
In October 2017, St. Stanislaus
College participated in the Eighth Inter
Schools Quiz Completion to commemorate Caribbean Statistics Day under the
theme “Improving the lives of people – Advancing the Action Plan for Statistics
in CARICOM”. Our team comprised four Grade Ten Students:
a) Sherlock
Langevine (most outstanding student),
b) Tassia
Bacchus,
c) Neveash
Kumar and
d) Jessica
Callender,
This team defeated Hope Secondary School,
West Demerara Secondary and North Ruimveldt Secondary, respectively and emerged
as the winner of the competition for the second year in a row.
In October 2017, the college held
its Inter-House Impromptu Speech Competition.
·
In the Junior Category,
Darren Budhram of Galton House placed first while Leroy Geer of Ethridge House
brought second.
·
For the Senior
Category, Nia Williams of Galton House brought first and Suphane Dash of Butler
House placed second.
The St. Stanislaus College Chess Club
continue to perform outstandingly well at the National Chess Championships under the guidance of the coach, Mr.
Wendell Meusa. The completion held in March, 2018 revealed that:
·
Joshua Gopaul of Grade
11 emerged the National Junior Champion;
·
Ghansham Allijohn and
Jayden Taylor of Grade 9 were second and third respectively;
·
Chelsea Juma of Grade 7
was judged the Best Female Player.
A
round of Applause for our Champions!
As part of our
Independence week of activities, a Rangoli
Competition was held involving students from Grades 7 to 10. Students used colored
rice to depict symbols of nationhood and the results were as follows:
·
Grade 10 with the map
of Guyana depicting the ten administrative regions were the winners of this
competition with 391 points;
·
Grade 9 with their
depiction of the Victoria Regia Lily placed second with 385 points;
·
Grade 7’s portrayal of
The Golden Arrowhead placed third with 360 points;
·
Grade 8’s Amerindian
Headdress placed fourth with 359 points.
Congratulations to all
you students and teachers for participating in this novelty event!
In May, 2018, the J.O.F. Haynes Memorial Debating Competition
commenced. Our team comprised:
a) Alleah
Phillips
b) Lesryn
Datson
c) Kiarra
Hazelwood
This team won Round 1 against
Central High School. However, they were defeated by Brickdam Secondary in Round
2.
The
Regional Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics Fair
was held from 5th to 9th March, 2018. The College submitted two projects: Walls
of Stone which was placed 1st
and Green Homes got 2nd.
Rachel Cecil of Grade
10T was awarded 1st place for the Oral Presentation, Secondary.
Also, at the National competition,
held from the 3rd to 6th April, 2018, Walls of Stone was
awarded 1st place.
Gratitude is extended to the following students:
1. Rachel
Cecil
2. Adrian
Conelly
3. Arantxa
English
4. Devina
Jetoo
5. Aatif
Khan
6. Lakshmi
Narine
7. Raeda
Persaud
8. Anish
Sookdeo
Special
thanks are also extended to Mr. LaRose, Mr. Lee and teachers of the Science
Department.
Honourable
Chairman,
There were numerous other co and
extra- curricular activities in which our students participated during the
academic year under review. Some of these included:
1. Supernova
High School Singing Competition at North Riumveldt Secondary School;
2. The
Children’s Mashramani competitions for Georgetown in the categories of Dramatic
Poetry, Dance and Physical Display;
3. An
Agricultural Science Field Trip to Edun’s Livestock Farm at Garden of Eden for Grade
11 students to complete the practical skills component of their School Based
Assessment.
4. A
Field Trip to Trinidad involving Grades 12 and 13 Communication Studies and
Environmental Studies students
5. Career
Talk sponsored by the University of Guyana. Presentations were made by Dr.
Nigel Gravesande, Registrar and Ms. Nickalva Washington, Assistant Registrar.
6. A Lecture on ‘Information Literacy and the
Link between Research and Copyright’ hosted by the National Library.
7. A
Career Fair hosted by the Lions Club
8. A
Girls in ICT Workshop hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat
9. The
third Pueblo Science workshop from July 11 to 13, 2018 and hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of
Education, St. Stanislaus College Board of Governors and the Toronto Alumni
Association. The workshop focused on experiential learning with locally-available
and low-cost materials. Science teachers and fourteen (14) students of St. Stanislaus College participated in
this activity.
We,
of the Saints family, can be justifiably proud of the achievements of our
students. The College Administration extends sincere appreciation to the Department
of Education and all organizations that hosted these special events.
COMMUNITY ALLIANCE
Mr.
Chairman,
Community
relationships are important for the Educational, Moral, Social and Spiritual
development of the students’ population. Of significance are:
1. The St. Stanislaus
College Scouts Group. This group continued
to grow offering students’ opportunities to engage in healthy activities while developing
their initiative, leadership ability and sense of responsibility.
2. The St Stanislaus
College Local Alumni Association as well as the Overseas Alumni Associations of
Toronto, Barbados and Antigua. These
associations continue to provide fibre-tech combinations, chemicals for the
Science laboratories, appliances for the Home Economics laboratory and funding
for graduation and prize-giving.
I
wish to especially highlight the commitment of our overseas Alumni who have been
raising money for the last 25 years to support St. Stanislaus. The founders and
the executive members of the Toronto Alumni Association, whose average age
would be in the mid seventies, have at least four fundraisers per year. They
have been consistently providing St. Stanislaus College, through our local
Association, in excess of three million dollars per year. Their hard work and
commitment year after year is impossible to understand and our appreciation can
never be overstated.
3. The Department of Education,
Georgetown. Heartfelt gratitude is extended to
the Officials for their support and guidance throughout the year that have
contributed to our success.
4. The St. Stanislaus
College Parent Teachers Association.
Special thanks to the PTA Chairman, Mr. Zulphicar Hussain, the executive and
parents who give of their time and expertise and who provided support,
including, funding the co and extra- curricular activities of the college. To
all Parents, we do appreciate your assistance and support rendered throughout
the year. Teaching and parenting are part of a
privileged, sacred trust and the closer we work together, the more fruitful the
opportunities for each child in our school.
5. The St. Stanislaus
Board of Governors. Sincere gratitude is
extended to The Chairman Mr. Chris Fernandes, and executive members who
continuously give their time unselfishly so as to ensure that St. Stanislaus
College is administered and managed effectively.
Again, special thanks and much
appreciation are extended to all teachers of the College both full time and
part time, ancillary staff and canteen operators, for their cooperation and
willingness to continue to give of their best despite the many challenges.
Teamwork and cooperation are closely linked, and I think that all we have
achieved this last year, has been the result of tremendous cooperation on the
part of everyone associated with this institution.
CHALLENGES
No report would be complete without
sharing some of our challenges. However,
because today is a happy occasion, I will not dwell on them but just share that
we continue to experience challenges with:
·
Attendance and
punctuality;
·
Good manners and
behaviour;
·
Lack of classrooms for
teaching CAPE
·
Parental involvement in
their children at school and school activities;
·
An alumni association
comprising younger and committed membership.
PROJECTIONS
St Stanislaus College
Administration hopes in the near future to accomplish the following projects:
1. Refurbishing
classrooms, in order to create child friendly environment for all of our
students;
2. Refurbishing
air conditioning units and installation of similar units in the Science Laboratories;
3. Construction
of a new wing to accommodate classrooms for teaching CAPE;
4. Creating
laboratories for Agricultural Science and Electrical andTechnology;
5. Creating
opportunities for students to learn about university options and for career
guidance by partnering with institutions and agencies locally and abroad.
CONCLUSION
Esteemed
Chairman and Distinguished Guests,
The
year under review September 2017 to July 2018 was commendable especially in the
academic field. Students performed creditably in many areas. The level of
sports improved and standards were maintained. We remain optimistic that St.
Stanislaus College will continue to reach higher heights.
To
the Students of St. Stanislaus College
You
are reminded that it is indeed an honor to attend St. Stanislaus College – to
share in the rich legacy left by founders. Therefore, you are encouraged to
continue to aim high in order that you achieve your set goals. As the great
Abraham Lincoln said, “The best way to
predict your future is to create it”.
To
the Graduands and Recipients of Prizes
Once
again, Congratulations on your accomplishments. We are all
extremely proud of you. Continue this trend of excellence. Remember, though,
that excellence is not a destination, but a journey that never ends.
To those leaving our beloved School
I wish you all the best. You have been a credit to this school and I have
confidence that success awaits in the outside world and your future endeavours.
I encourage you to be a lifelong student. Whatever you do, throw head, hearts
and hands into it, and be happy about it.
According to Mario Andretti, "Desire is the key to motivation, but
it is determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal -- a
commitment to excellence -- that will enable you to attain the success you
seek.” Remember the lessons you received at Saints and be willing to
share them for the benefit of others… Remember also that your old school needs
you. I implore all of you to keep the school motto always in your heart and
actions:
“Aeterna Non Caduca”-
“Not for this Life only, But For Eternity”
Thanks
to God for a good year. May he continue to guide and direct all the
stakeholders of St. Stanislaus College so that students and our country will
benefit from the legacy of quality of education, nurturing coming generations
of students to become upright, fulfilled and contributing members of the
community.
It was a privilege to
share this report with you.
THANK YOU!
Fazia
Baksh
Principal
13th
November, 2018
No comments:
Post a Comment