Bennett heaps praise on ISSA

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Hydel High principal Hyacinth Bennett is commending the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) for allowing private high schools to compete in its competitions, which, prior to last year, was only opened to public schools.

Bennett, who was speaking during her school's debut game in the urban area ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup football competition against Kingston College on Tuesday, said it took a while for ISSA to accept private high schools, but now that they have, it's like a dream come true.

ISSA, prior to now, was an association of public high school principals, which organises and oversees sports competitions among its members.

"As a private high school, there was a process through which we had to go through to gain eligibility, so it took a while. But now that it we (private high schools) have, I am elated, and commendation must go to ISSA," said a smiling Bennett, who, throughout the game, could do little to control herself on the sidelines.

Hydel lost the match 2-1.

"When it comes to sports, I think it should be a national event and not public or private," she added.

Hydel, which is located at Ferry on the border of Kingston and St Andrew and St Catherine, are celebrating 18 years of existence and is one of two private high schools competing in the Manning Cup competition this season.

The other is St Andrew College, which is located on Slipe Road.

Self-expression

According to Bennett, ISSA competitions offer her students another avenue to express themselves, given their previous successes in private high school competitions.

She also said that it was an extension of the school's overall development plan, which fits into the goals of its parent body - Hydel Group of Schools - for total education, beginning at the preparatory school level and ending at the tertiary level.

At the preparatory school level, Hydel has enjoyed tremendous success in football, netball, cricket and track and field, the latter they have won on 10 occasions, including the last eight.

Last season, on the heels of ISSA's relaxing its rules, Hydel competed in its netball and basketball competitions and the prestigious Boys and Girls' Athletic championship in which they won two gold medals and finished a creditable 11th out of 112 schools.

"The types of competitions ISSA organises offer our students another avenue to express themselves and develop their talents," said Bennett.

"As a Christian-based school, they are exactly what we need to help with their total development, and for this reason we are happy that we are now involved," she declared.

Belair High, located in Mandiville, Manchester, is another private high school which competes in the rural area ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup.