Michael Baksh of Smith Memorial Primary School felt like scrapping his examination results this year because he performed “not so good”, but he was the top performer at his school and also represents a large batch of students across the country who gave it all they had and came up a bit short.
Outside of the bracket of top performers at the National Grade Six Assessment examinations, there are many Michaels; thousands of children who uplift their examination slips and frown at it, initially feeling disappointment and later apprehension about what “mommy and daddy” will say.
And their stories are not much different than the top performers because they all also had teachers who wanted them to win places at Queen’s College and Bishops’ High among other schools and parents who stressed the importance of “bringing home a good school”. They also made sacrifices, took extra lessons and gave up their favourite hobbies and television shows in an effort to succeed.
“Is not what I worked for, but that is what I got”, Michael said on Tuesday minutes after he received the results. His score of 502 marks secured him a place at Christ Church Secondary; he was hoping for Bishops’ High. Michael wanted to please his parents saying the desire to do well consumed him for sometime, but that he focused on his studies and tried not to think about it.
He travels from Foulis, East Coast Demerara to attend a city school and said he is disappointed with his performance. Other students at the school who felt disappointed with their results included Ryan Prince, Cristen Samuels, Shawntay Beir and Faition Collins.
Ryan aimed at St. Rose’s High saying he worked “really hard” and was not expecting East Ruimveldt but will accept it. Ryan said he studied every day and read a lot. He said Social Studies was a big challenge for him. He plans to pursue a career in business and said one day “I will be a businessman”. He thanked his mother, Kendra Pilgrim for helping him along the way.
Cristen was also aiming for St. Rose’s and said she was disappointed. She praised her family for supporting her work and said she will continue to work harder. She is still happy with her placement at St. John’s College. She recalled taking several breaks from studying during her preparation for the examination.
Shawntay Beir said she worked for Bishops’ High but she accepted her placement at St. George’s High. She said her family helped “tremendously”. She plans to join the legal profession saying that that dream is still alive.
Faition said he did not secure the marks for Bishops’, but he is thankful for what he got though a bit disappointed. “I work hard and I thank God for this”, he said of his placement at North Ruimveldt Multilateral School. He spent time going over his work and said it was challenging but that he kept at it until the examination was over. He hopes to become a pilot.
Ketley Primary School
There was some excitement over at Ketley Primary because the two top students from the A class are heading to Bishops’ High and several others performed creditably. There were several others who sat around dejected saying they worked hard, but didn’t get the schools they wanted. “Many of them are very disappointed”, a teacher said, but she sat assuring the students that a secondary education was there for all to receive.
The beaming faces belonged to Vishal Roopnarine and Carlos Persaud among several others. Vishal, age 11, emerged the top performer at the school having secured a place at Bishops’ High and Carlos was close behind, also securing a place at Bishops’ High. Vishal said he studied very hard and also gave up his love: television. “I sacrificed a lot for this exam and I would just like to thank my teacher, Miss Singh, Sir Wilfred Success and Sir Sandy”. Vishal wants to join the teaching profession to give back, according to him.
Carlos, age 12, wanted Queen’s College, but feels the school he was awarded is satisfactory. He had trouble with Social Studies and spent many hours studying. He said his family helped him with a lot of ‘question and answer’ work. He also thanked his teacher, Miss Singh saying she was a big help.
Other students like Jenillah Isaacs picked up her slip and was not happy with her place at Carmel Secondary. The 11 year-old had dreams of going to St. Rose’s High. “I feel so sad”, she said, recalling that she studied on a few days and took a break on other days. She said her mother, who supports her and her siblings, worked a lot with her and because of that she wanted to “do well”. Jenillah who resides at Agricola, East Bank Demerara hopes to become a doctor and said she intends to continue working hard.
Shayanna Perry secured a place at Dolphin Secondary and she accepted it though Bishops’ was her goal. The 11-year-old Albouystown resident said the examination was a bit difficult and she had trouble with some subjects, but she tried to answer all the questions. She hopes to some day join the teaching profession.
Daryl Blakeney, age 11 years, was born in French Guiana to Guyanese parents and he came to Guyana a few years ago. He was working for Central High and or Brickdam Secondary, but has to settle for Charlestown Secondary. “I was not happy”, he said of his placement there saying he worked hard to get a good school. However, he said he would continue to aim high and be serious about his work.
St. Pius Primary School
The top performers for the school, Brittany Persaud and Marissa Wilson tied with 531 marks to secure a place at Bishops’ High. The two were excited saying they both worked for that school and wanted to wear the uniform since they were very little. Brittany, age 12 years, said her class teacher, Miss Jenny helped a lot, and she also praised Sir Wilfred Success for his extra lessons. Brittany said her preparation for the examination started a “long time ago”.
Marissa, age 11, said she did a lot of revision and paid serious attention to her work. She said her class teacher, Miss Jenny helped her in school and during extra lessons. She described her feeling as “ecstatic”. She recalled putting in a lot of hours with her family who she said also supported her along the way.
Troian Barton, age 11 years, cried when she got her results. She wanted one of the “top schools”, but came out with East Ruimvedlt Secondary. She explained that she was sad because she had worked for a school where “the top education is”. She was unable to hold back her tears and took a moment before composing herself to say she will put in more hours to do better as time progresses. She hopes to be an attorney some day. “I studied a lot and I prayed, I prayed to God”, she added.
Mickella Harte also secured a place at East Ruimvedlt and was not happy because she was aiming higher. “I wanted a hard working school”, she said, adding that she worked hard to get there but that it did not happen. She prepared by studying most nights and taking a break on a few days. Mickella also took extra lessons. She wants to study medicine and said nothing will discourage her. “Not even this”, she said of the results.
Thomas Moore Primary School
Ronaldo Jacobs had set his sights on Saint Stanislaus Secondary and was a bit stunned when he learnt that he secured a place at Christ Church.
However, he was proud that he emerged the top performer at the school. The examinations were a bit challenging, he said, but overall it was “okay”. He said his family was there throughout his preparations for the examination. The 11-year-old decided against extra lessons. When he is of age, Ronaldo intends to join the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
Christian Husbands was awarded a place at St. John’s College and was disappointed because he also failed to secure a place at Saints. “It’s a high school, one of the best”, he said of Saints saying he also considered Queen’s College. Christian said his family helped him tremendously, particularly his older sister and brother. He plans to take up cricket professionally after he completes his studies.
Stephon Semple was awarded a place at Lodge Secondary School and was only a little disappointed. Stephon, age 12 years, said he did not have a particular school in mind but thought of the one close to home, North Ruimveldt Multilateral School. He did not take any extra lessons for the examinations and said he did encounter a few challenges, but that he gave it all he had. He also plans to join the GDF when he is eligible.
Kimberly Cordis, age 12 years, said she travelled every day from Sophia to attend Thomas Moore to win a place at a good school. She said her placement at Campbellville Secondary was disappointing but she will accept it. She was aiming for St. Rose’s High and believed she had worked hard enough. She found Social Studies challenging.