Larissa Wiltshire
When top student Larissa Wiltshire was informed of her achievement yesterday, she stood silent for a few seconds as the information sank in. The Mae’s Under-12 student said she was overjoyed to be the top performer at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). Wiltshire, the daughter of Justice Roxane George and Garfield Wiltshire, said that her preparations for the assessment were tough and expressed appreciation to her parents and teachers as she noted that she will be continuing from where she left off at Queen’s College (QC) in the new school term. Her Grade Six teacher Bernice Brisport told Stabroek News she was happy at Wiltshire’s achievement as well as her colleagues who featured in the top 10 at the assessment. She emphasized that a lot of hard work was embedded in her students’ preparations for the assessment and noted that they have been consistent throughout their school life at the institution.
Samathra Rocke
Second place performer Samathra Rocke of St Margaret’s Primary was overcome with emotion yesterday when she was informed by this newspaper of her achievement. Her class teacher, Kathlyn Persico and the school’s principal Georgina Lewis, who were both surprised at the result, soothed her as she sat stunned at the news. Rocke, who was described by her class teacher as a simple, quiet, reserved student, said she never expected to feature in the top 10 at the assessment; she even asked this reporter to check if the information was correct.
After composing herself a few minutes later, Rocke said that she hopes to pursue studies in the science field and expressed appreciation to her parents, teachers who worked with her over the years, and more importantly, she noted, to almighty God.
Elijah Babb
Elijah Babb of the New Guyana School said he felt good at securing third place at the assessment. He told this newspaper yesterday that without the assistance provided to him by his teachers and parents, his achievement would not have been a possibility. The young man, who displayed a contented look as he spoke to Stabroek News, related that he spent many hours at night studying for the assessment. Babb, who is the older of his parents’ two sons, said that he wants to become a pilot. He said he intends to continue working hard at QC in the new school term and his advice to students preparing for the NGSA is to stay focused and study hard in order to get good results. He expressed a special thank you to his class teacher Ms Shirley Green. His parents, who were present at the interview, were also elated at their son’s achievement.
Abhiymanyu Dev
Abhiymanyu Dev of the Leonora Primary School who shared the fourth position with Sasha Williams of Mae’s Under 12, gaining 562 marks and a spot at QC, told Stabroek News that he felt very excited upon learning from his teacher that he had done so well in his exams.
The nine-year-old who wants to be a famous international cricketer told this newspaper that though he studied very hard and made sacrifices, he never found himself staying up very late at night or overworking his brain. He did however stress that “making sacrifices and studying hard are the keys to success.”
Dev said that his greatest source of inspiration to perform well at his exams came from his sister Anuradha Dev, who topped the country when she wrote the exam in 2006. He said he is anxiously awaiting the start of the new school term to attend QC with his sister. He said that God, his teachers and parents played an instrumental role in his success.
Dev, who wore a calm look on his face throughout the interview, said that in his spare time, he enjoys reading and playing cricket and now that the exam results have been released, he can sleep well at nights and not have to worry constantly about his performance. With a smile, he ended the interview by saying, “though I don’t know exactly what my parents will give me, I know that they will reward me well for my hard work.”
Somant Heeralall
Somant Heeralall, of Annandale Primary who spoke to this newspaper from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri where he was about to board a flight for the US yesterday, told Stabroek News that he was very happy at his performance and he said that he will continue working hard at his new school QC come September. Even though the results were beyond his expectations, the young man said that he had been performing fairly well at school over the years and he intends to work towards becoming a doctor in the future. His mother Nirmala, told this newspaper that the family was sending Somant on a vacation and the news of his results was the icing on the cake for the young man. She expressed a special thank you to Caribbean Airlines, who she said gave her family some additional time at the airport to celebrate her son’s achievement.
Khajal Parasnath
Khajal Parasnath of the Dharmic Rama Krishna, who shared the sixth position with Somant Heeralall of Annandale Primary and Darius Ali of Marian Academy, told this newspaper yesterday at her school that she was excited when she received her results. The young lady said she wished to thank her parents and teachers who assisted her throughout her preparations for the assessment. Parasnath noted that three of her colleagues will be attending QC with her in the new school term and said this will be to her benefit since her friends will be with her as she gets used to the secondary school environment in the new term. Her father Himkaran Parasnath was equally excited and he told this newspaper that Khajal is the second child of his who will be at QC, as he noted that there is a friendly rivalry between Khajal and his elder daughter.
Darius Ali
Darius Ali of Marian Academy, who visited Stabroek News yesterday for an interview, said that his achievement was the result of hard work. He said he did a lot of studying as he prepared for the assessment and while he was unsure as to what career path he intends to follow in future, he said he will be working hard at Marian Academy, where he will continue studies in the secondary department in the new school year. He said he was thankful to God, his parents and his teachers who all assisted him greatly during his preparations for the assessment. He mentioned the name of his class teacher, Sir Gonsalves and Sister Marie Harper, the school’s head, among others as the persons who played an important role during his school life thus far. His father Ramsay Ali said that he was proud of his son’s achievement and noted that his son’s elder sister had also made the family proud a few years ago at the same exam.
Tonya Alves
Tonya Alves, one of three students of the Mae’s Under 12 primary to feature in the top 10, said she had been putting a lot of effort into her schoolwork over the past two years as she had been working with a timetable to complete her studies. She said even though she expected to do well at the assessment, the results were a little beyond her expectations. Alves said she will be moving on to QC in the new school year and hopes to one day fulfil her dream of becoming a paediatrician. Her parents said that Tonya, the older of their two daughters, had been doing well at school over the years. They both expressed appreciation to the school and God for their daughter’s achievement.
Raman Rameez Arjune
Raman Rameez Arjune, told Stabroek News that he is “very excited about my performance. I expected to do very well but I didn’t think I would top this whole region or even come ninth in the country. I really wanted to top the school.” He had no problems during the course of his studies, and thanked God for his success. “I also want to thank my teachers, especially Sir Roger [Wilson], my headmistress, my parents and those persons who helped me.”
According the headmistress of Edinburgh Primary school, Mrs Rose Dos Ramos, she is “extremely happy not only for the child but for the school as a whole. Something like this will put some wind in my sails. We have never had anyone in the top ten in the country and topping the region as well. But this is wonderful”, she said amidst tears.
Roger Wilson, the Grade Six teacher, said that he has been teaching for some 12 years, with five years in the Grade Six. “Over the years we had children going to President’s College, but never in the top 10.” He said he always thought Raman could it, but with it now happening, “it’s like a dream come through for any teacher”.
He said teachers “should forget about the negative things that parents may want to say, and keep pushing the children.” He told Stabroek News that he had given up classes at university, his leave, and even spare time, just to spend more time with his pupils. “Teachers must not be seen as a threat but as someone to work along with. There needs to be more cooperation among head teachers, teachers and parents; and they should work as a family,” he said. “Raman was always on top of his game. If someone challenges him he will work even harder to keep on top. With all of this he continued to remain simple. He does not get swell-headed.”
Bibi Jameela Arjune, Raman’s mother, said she never had any problems with her son. “He was always willing to work. Sometimes he got angry when he was not getting things right, but his father, Hardat Arjune would work out things with him. ”
David Ramroop
One of five children who gained ninth place in the NGSA, 11 year-old David Ramroop of Peter’s Hall Primary School was all smiles when this newspaper arrived at the school yesterday. He said he was in a state of shock and disbelief when he was told by his head teacher that he had done very well and had placed ninth in the country with 559 marks.
“I couldn’t believe it,” the aspiring computer scientist said. “It is indeed a dream come through for me, I always wanted to attend Queen’s College and now I can’t wait for school to reopen and put on my QC uniform.”
He said that though they were times when he felt tense and nervous, he still believed he was going to be in the top 10 or 20. Listing his grandfather who is now deceased as his main source of encouragement, he said he wished his granddad was around to share in his joy. He said that he is very grateful first of all to God and also to his teachers and parents who supported him during the time of his examinations.
Ramroop said that before his grandfather died, he told him that it was important to do well in his exams. “That is exactly what I did,” he said. Ramroop said that among the many things his family will be planning for his success, is a thanksgiving service in honour of his performance.
Lisa John
Lisa John, 12, of Leonora Primary School who also shared the ninth place with 559 points and secured her seat at QC said, “I’m really happy that I have performed well and made my parents and teachers proud of me. I always knew that I would do well but was shocked at having been placed in the top 10.”
The visibly happy John said she stayed up late many nights revising her work and had to give up the television and the computer. This aspiring bank manager said that she was grateful to God and to her teachers and parents for the support and encouragement they had given her.
John said she was promised a trip to Trinidad by her parents if she had performed well and would be looking forward to it. “Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to dress up in my QC uniform for the new school term. It is a pity that September is still so far away. I can promise you that I will enjoy my August vacation though,” John said.
Ashmini Persaud
Twelve-year-old Lima, Essequibo Coast resident Ashmini Persaud’s only wish after securing the ninth position in the country is for her parents to take her on a trip to Kaieteur Falls.
“That is all I wish for,” the excited Sparta Primary School pupil told Stabroek News via telephone yesterday. When this newspaper contacted her and shared the good news with her she was busy cleaning the school building, along with other students, for their graduation ceremony tomorrow. She said while she expected to do well she never in her dreams would have thought she would have made it to the top ten in the country. The daughter of Dev and Nalini Persaud said her ambition is to one day become a banker or a doctor. Her father is a supervisor at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Anna Regina branch. Ashmini singled out her class teacher, Prameshwar Deonarine and her parents for special mention as she said without them she would not have been in the top ten.
“She always use to do well in school but is like the entire country and we would never think she would do this well, I am so happy,” her mother Nalini told Stabroek News.
And it is the first time the Sparta Primary School has done so well. Headmaster, Sooknaraine Khanhai yesterday said that Persaud has always been outstanding in her work and they expected her to perform well. He said the entire school was happy at her performance as it is an indication that the school has the potential to do better in the future. Persaud’s teacher, Sir Deonarine said he was extremely happy at Persaud’s performance as his goal in teaching is always for his students to perform exceptionally well. He described Ashmini as a “very dedicated and hardworking student who always did her work” adding that her parents played a great role in her performance as they made sure she did her homework. (Alva Solomon, Femi Harris and Adrian Smith)