As Trinidad & Tobago celebrates 60 years of being an independent nation, we ask on this Independence edition of #FlashbackFriday…
What was Naps like back in 1962?
By this time, Naparima College was 63 years old and was under the leadership of the newly minted Principal, Revered James Seunarine. 680 students were enrolled, and infrastructure had already been modernised to what we know today. Academic excellence increased, sporting records continued to be broken, and a decade old football rivalry with Presentation College became personal. It seems some things never change.
Take some time to read this comprehensive list below to gain a better understanding of life at Naps in 1962:
- Students began entering Naparima College after sitting the Common Entrance Examinations.
- The retirement of James Sammy after 50 years of service.
- The College was in mourning after the passing of Edward T. Lute who retired as principal one year earlier.
- New members were added to the teaching staff: Jennifer Gregson (Mathematics), Jean Springer (Physics), Clyde DeBoug (Geography and French), Victor Cowan (Spanish and Sports), Edward Henry (Music) and Wylla Mulchansingh (Art).
- Music was introduced into the curriculum.
- The “Naparima College Choral Society” was inaugurated.
- Rosie K. Mohammed was the first girl in college history to win a full Science Certificate.
- Krishna Gooriesingh was the first student to attain a distinction in Health Sciences, a subject that was introduced into the curriculum a year prior.
- Twenty-One Full Certificates awarded with distinctions in Mathematics, English, Chemistry and Geography.
- Twenty Distinctions in the Cambridge School Certificate examinations in English Language, Literature, Geography, Elementary Mathematics and Health Sciences.
- Inter-form/Inter-class football was re-introduced – Class 3A won middle school while Class 2C won lower school.
- Naparima was defeated by Presentation College in both College League and Intercol football finals.
- Naparima defeated Presentation College – Chaguanas in the Junior Cricket finals
- Junior Intercol Team defeated Presentation College and won the Herde Shield for the first time.
- Carl McClashie broke the College 100-yard record in eleven seconds.
- Jerome Ramanth was awarded Best All-Round Student
- Roy Jagroopsingh was awarded Best All-Round Performer in Sports
- Clarence Harnanan was awarded the Prefect’s Prize in general proficiency.
- Lennox Boodoo was awarded the “A.R Sinanan” prize for most progressive student
- Grant House won the Inter-House Football Trophy
- Sammy House won the Inter-House Cricket Championship
- Flemington House became Sports Day Athletic Champions
- Walls House was awarded the “L. Jaggernauth” Shield for Inter-House All Round Proficiency
- Victor Albert became the Class A Table Tennis champion.
- Naparima College was the only school in the country to contribute to the United Nations “Freedom from Hunger Week”.
- The building of the Walls Pavilion by the then “Old Boys’ Association”
Be it our existence as a colony or when we gained the status of an independent nation, one fact remained the same, the spirit of Naps was alive and well. According to Rabindranath Maharaj, Assistant Chief Prefect of the Student Council:
“Naparima is better and its students are being taught not only to be responsible citizens, but also to identify themselves as proud Naparimans in an Independent Trinidad.”
Sources: The Olympian 1962, 1963.
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