An 11-year-old student of Novar Primary School at Mahaicony topped Region Five at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment examination and also placed among the top 100 of the country.

Renuka Ramdat, an aspiring doctor who has gained 536 marks was awarded a place at Queen’s College and was beaming with joy when this newspaper spoke to her recently. Although she was happy with her marks she said she was expecting to do better.

She expressed gratitude to all the teachers of her school, especially her class teacher, Shamena Charran who worked tirelessly with all the students, former headmaster, Inderdeo Persaud and her parents for their encouragement and support.

Renuka who enjoys reading advised other students preparing for the exams to “work hard and forget about television for a while.”

Placing second for the school was Dinesh Kissoon. He has also passed to go to Queen’s College with 532 marks.

“I want to thank God first of all, my teachers who helped me especially Ms. Shamie and my former headmaster for encouraging me,” Dinesh who also aspires to become a doctor said.

Sandia Jaikarran who has her heart set on becoming a journalist achieved 524 marks and has secured a place at Saint Stanislaus College. She was aiming for Bishops’ High School but is still satisfied with her achievements.

Also passing to go to Saints Stanislaus College was Zinnasha Williams with 521 marks. She, as well as all the other students who gained over 500 marks also said their achievement was through the encouragement of their teachers, former headmaster and parents.

Treyon Williams came next with 509 marks and has passed to go to St.

Joseph. He enjoys reading and learning the meaning and spelling of new words.

Andra Isaacs who wants to become an archeologist also followed close behind with 508 marks and has also secured a space at St. Joseph. He enjoys playing video games, watching television and studying.

Two others, Mintranie Singh and Ulanda Haynes have secured 503 and 502 marks respectively and have both passed to go to New Amsterdam Secondary School but would be applying to go to President’s College.

All of the other students said they would attend the schools they have achieved.

Charran told Stabroek News she was satisfied with the performance of all of her students and said they have all been placed at secondary schools. She said she worked hard with the students who could have called her at anytime and said they were “encouraging to work with.”

Meanwhile, topping the Lachmansingh Primary School with 523 marks was Ravindra Odit who has been awarded a place at St. Stanislaus College.

Two students, Brandon Lee Straut and Augustus Angus have gained 520 and 515 marks respectively and have both gained places at St.Stanislaus College. Coming next with 511 marks is Lashun Whyte who has passed to go to St. Rose’s High School.

For the Rosignol Primary Rashid Karim has achieved a place at St.

Rose’s High with 518 marks while nine other students have gained over 500 marks, according to Regional Education Officer, Urlene Crandon.

She also said that for Cotton Tree Primary School, Brandon Tulsie was awarded a place at St. Stanislaus College with 520 marks while David Samuels has passed to go to St. Rose’s High with 518 marks and Aslim Khan achieved St. Joseph’s High School with 509 marks.

A student of Blairmont Primary, Sonia Mangal has also been placed at St. Joseph’s with 508 marks while a student of Champagne, Mahaicony has gained 510 marks.

Dhanraj Hemwant of Mortice Primary, Shemar Roberts of Mahaicony Primary, Oshea James of Zeeland Primary and Mariah Mahadeo of De Hoop Primary have all been awarded places at President College with 497, 501, 503 and 496 marks respectively.

Crandon told this newspaper that the results are better than last year. She said while she was pleased “with the scores the students have achieved the placements were giving me problems – they have not been awarded schools in close proximity to their homes.”

Crandon pointed out that students from the coast and Saint Francis Mission have been placed at Gordon Table – a primary top and the region would have to find places for them.

She said students of Mahaicony Primary were wrongly placed at De Hoop Primary top and because of the distance she would have to try to get them to the primary top at Novar which is already overcrowded.

Other students have also been sent to Vryman’s Erven Secondary in Region Six.