Guyana has once again produced the most outstanding candidate overall at the CSEC examinations and for the fourth consecutive time that student is from Queen’s College (QC).
Yesterday Minister of Education Shaik Baksh met the most outstanding candidate overall, Kia Persaud, as well as the most outstanding students in the Sciences and Business Education at his office on Brickdam.
Speaking to the students, Baksh said, “We are proud in the ministry and also all of Guyana is proud to know that once again we have excelled.” He told the students that their achievements show “what we can do in the education sector of Guyana. We wish you the best in whatever career you wish to pursue.”
Referring to the fact that all of the outstanding students were girls, he noted that a study is currently ongoing to find out what can be done to encourage boys to perform as well as the girls.
Also congratulating the girls on their success was Minister within the Ministry of Education Dr Desrey Fox. She told the children how “very proud” the ministry, the teachers and the parents were of their achievements, adding, “we are looking forward to great things” from them. Plaques will be presented later on in the week to the schools of the outstanding performers, the minister said.
Meanwhile, Persaud, who was also the country’s outstanding performer at this year’s CSEC examinations, said she was very excited and happy.
She said she was especially looking forward to travelling to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) next week where she along with other outstanding performers will be honoured by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). Persaud, who displayed a humble and quiet demeanour said that she had worked pretty hard. She seemed eager to return to school.
Nonetheless, the young lady said that her success was because of the lengthy periods of studying she put in. She said she began preparing for the exams by studying during the vacation she had before she entered fifth form. Persaud is currently in sixth form pursuing CAPE studies at her school and said that she may consider utilising the scholarship that she has acquired with her latest achievement.
All the outstanding performers have the chance to study at the University of the West Indies on scholarships if they complete the CAPE examinations. Persaud said she is currently undecided as to her exact career focus, but says that it will be something in the science field.
Her teacher related that the fact she was selected as the region’s outstanding overall candidate came as no surprise since she was a hard worker and had been coming out on top throughout her school life.
And for the upcoming students who will write CSEC exams in the future, Persaud’s advice is to, “Keep working hard; don’t give up; it will work out in the end.”
Persaud wrote 14 subjects and achieved 14 Grade 1s.
Meanwhile, the other QC student, Padminee Roshundatt, received the honour of the most outstanding performer in the Sciences.
She wrote 14 subjects and achieved Grade 1s in all. And the most outstanding performer in Business Education Sonia Yacoob of the New Amsterdam Multilateral School wrote 11 business subjects and gained 11 Grade 1s. Both of the girls expressed their excitement and happiness at the recognition and both are relishing the chance to travel to the BVI.
