-overall pass rate soars
By Tiffny Rhodius and Candace Phillips
Queen’s College students Saieed Khalil and Kelly Ann Persaud each gained 15 Grade Ones to top this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
At a press conference yesterday, Education Minister Shaik Baksh reported that there has been an increase in the overall pass rate in the grades one to three passes and the pass rate is now 85.8% in grade one to four passes, compared to 63.7% last year. This year, 141 candidates secured Grade One passes in eight or more subjects.
There was an increase in the number of
students who wrote the examination but the divide between males and females also increased, the minister pointed out. This year 68.1% of students who wrote CSEC were females, while 31.9% were males. According to Baksh, 52.6% of the top 97 performers were females while 47.4% were males. However, males recorded the higher percentage of Grades One to Three passes, the Minister added. Baksh said that his ministry is putting initiatives in place to keep males in schools so that they could write the secondary school examinations and move on. There are also efforts to attract male teachers.
Meanwhile, Mathematics recorded a dismal 34.51% pass rate although Baksh noted
that it was an improvement over last year’s 31% showing. Baksh said that there have been interventions in this subject area as well as English through the National Centre for Educational Resource Development to see improvement in the years to come. “There has been a steady increase over the years,” he said of the Mathematics results, adding that the interventions by his ministry “seem to be working.”
On the other hand, English A has shown a significant improvement, moving from a 50.29% pass rate in 2009 to 59.16% this year. The sciences were said to have excellent performances along with Information Technology (General). One hundred percent passes were recorded in Theatre Arts and Physical Education. These figures were based on Grade One to Three passes.
Baksh said too that a special intervention which allows students who failed Maths or English to re-write it in January is expected to be launched in the new school year.
Meanwhile, the Bishops’ High school recorded the highest percentage of Grade One to Three passes in five or more subjects this year, among public schools, followed by President’s College, St Joseph’s High, West Demerara Secondary, Queen’s College and Anna Regina Secondary. Among private schools, the Saraswatie Vidya Niketan recorded the highest percentage pass in Grades One to Three in five or more subjects, followed by Marian Academy, ISA Islamic School, Mae’s Secondary, The Business School and Apex Academy. “I am more than pleased with the results this year. We have done very well in most of the subject areas,” Baksh said, while also commending teachers for the hard work they put in.
QC joy
The Ministry of Education released the names of the top 27 performers yesterday.
At Queen’s College, there were shrieks of joy as the top four students came in and were greeted with hugs and best wishes by teachers and fellow students alike. Khalil, who gained 15 Grade Ones and one Grade Two said, “They say it takes an army to win a war and God knows I had the best soldiers alongside me all the way” while pointing to his teachers. In addition to teachers, he thanked God, his parents and all his supporters. “I fought diligently and doggedly and in the end there was victory,” he said.
Khalil, 16, whose goal is to become an economist, added that he does not know if he will go to the University of Guyana (UG) or await the CSEC council’s decision on who topped the region. Persons who are named the top performer receive a scholarship.
Meanwhile, Kelly Ann Persaud, 15, spoke with Stabroek News via telephone and said, “I’m shocked. I’m stunned. And really, really happy.” She added that a lot of work and dedication with complete focus was what led to her 15 Grade Ones, which included 13 distinctions.
She plans to complete Sixth Form before heading off to UG to study Medicine. She plans on becoming a neurosurgeon. Her performance, she said, meant everything to her. “It’s something I really wanted and it means the world to me. I can’t express how amazing it feels.”
Queen’s College student Candace Barnes gained 14 Grade Ones and one Grade Two. Barnes, 17, said, “I’m definitely elated with my results. I feel like I worked hard and that my hard work paid off.” She thanked God, her lesson and class teachers as well as her parents. She was accompanied by her mother, Justice Dawn Gregory Barnes, who said, “Candacy worked hard. She always wanted to do well and I’m very happy for her.”
Lide Forde, 17, also of Queen’s College, had mixed feelings about his 14 Grade Ones and one Grade Two. “I’m pleased,” he said. But he added that he was not happy with the Grade Two, which he gained in economics. That aside, he said that he will definitely be going to Sixth Form. His aim is to become a cardiologist and he wants to help people who are poor and cannot afford treatment. He too thanked his teachers, his parents and God.
Anna Regina Multilateral student Yeeshana Ganpat, 16, of Reliance, rounded out the top five performers. Ganpat gained 13 Grade Ones and one Grade Two. She said she was in the science stream and expected to be among the top ten. “I would like to thank God, all the teachers and my parents,” the excited girl said. She was not aware of the results being out.
Queen’s College’s Sophia King was next on the list of top performers, having secured 13 Grade Ones. Mae’s Secondary student Kalian Bulkan also scored 13 Grade Ones with a performance that continued the line of educational successes by the Bulkan family. Bulkan said that she was proud and happy to be continuing a trend which was set by her sisters, Camille and Aliya. She said she constantly performed well and so the results were expected. She acknowledged her parents’ support and the work of her teachers. She will be heading to UG to study Biology come September. The key to success, she said, is to study hard.
Also of Mae’s Secondary, Salma Ferouz secured 13 Grade Ones as well. She was overjoyed at the news and said she it was due to Allah, her parents and her teachers at Mae’s and the Isa Islamic School. She urged students to work very hard, sacrifice a lot and be self disciplined. While she is set to begin studies in medicine in January for now she will enjoy a trip to China, which is her gift for doing well at the exams.
Krysta Yan of Marian Academy also copped 13 Grade Ones and she said her success came from a lot of hard work, studying and having a goal in mind. “I wanted to do my best,” she explained. Her next step is to begin ‘A’ level studies at the School of Nations to achieve her goal of being a lawyer. “Remain focused and never give up,” she advises students. “What you put in, is what you get out.” She expressed thanks to her supportive family and her teachers at the school for being very encouraging.
Still floating
Queen’s College Shivanie Harry, who gained 12 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos said
that when she was contacted she did not believe the news. According to her, she was “still floating” and fully intends to enjoy the moment. She attributed her success to God, whom she said makes everything possible, and her parents and family for their support and her teachers. She is set to return to her school when it reopens to pursue either CAPE or ‘A’ level studies. She said students need to work hard and pray harder. “I am just so happy, I can’t think straight and I want to thank everybody who helped from the bottom of my heart,” she said. Also unaware that results were out was Bibi Safia Khan from Anna Regina Multilateral, who also gained 12 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos. The 17-year-old science student thanked her parents and brother, who helped very much. Her favourite subject she said was Mathematics and she intends to pursue a career in Pharmacy.
Navindra Baldeo said that he did not believe the news. “I’m still in shock but I’m glad,” he said. He said the hard work of his teachers especially Mr. Hardyal and his mother who is a single parent were instrumental in his success. Baldeo, of Queen’s College, also obtained 12 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos. He plans to study Biology before commencing studies in Medicine at the University. “Work hard and have faith that you have the capability to do well regardless of background,” Baldeo said. He hoped his success inspires other children who come from single parent households that they can overcome their adversity if they work hard and trust in God.
“When I heard of the news, I was shocked,” said Melissa Ram when she was contacted. She added that the feeling was still sinking in
since she did not expect to do so well. Ram, of Queen’s College, gained 12 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos. She said that she owed her success to her teachers and her parents. While preparation for the examinations was hard work, she said that she had many people motivating her, especially her parents and her teacher, Mr. Bernard. She plans to continue studies at the ‘A’ levels in the business field. Her advice to her peers is “work hard. You just have to work hard.”
Sandesha Ramharak of Queens College gained 12 Grade Ones and a Grade Two. When contacted, she said she was feeling “numb” since the feeling was still new to her. While she has been told of her results, she said she wanted to see it on paper. She credited her many mentors, including her mother and Mr. Bernard, whom she said told students not to give up and played a big part in their success. In September, she will continue to Sixth Form to do business subjects with the dream of being an economist. Her advice to students, “Study mercilessly and don’t ever give up.”
Queen’s College student Adunni Robinson said that she was delighted when this newspaper called her. “I’m proud of what I did,” she added. Robinson gained 12 Grade Ones with nine distinctions. Her plans include Sixth Form and then UG, where she hopes to pursue a degree in Medicine.
Another Queen’s College student Reshana Thomas could not believe her grades. “I’m very, very happy. I can’t believe I got 12 ones I’m just very happy.” Next for Thomas is Sixth Form and then UG where she plans to study medicine or geology. Her mother, Aroona Thomas said, “I’m very happy and proud at this moment with all thanks to the father above. I’m really happy for her.”
Sodavie Narine, 16, of Abram’s Zuil Secondary gained 12 Grade Ones, two Grade Twos and a Grade Three. She was happy. Her parents were happy too. They were making preparations for a religious function today and now will be giving extra praise for her success. She said she was in the business stream. “I would like to thank my teachers and my parents.”
Mahendra Ramgobin was overwhelmed with his performance. “I have to thank my parents and teachers at QC,” he said. He added that he had to do “a lot of work” on his own since there was a shortage of teachers in subject areas, especially in Spanish. He hoped to one day take over his father’s company, Guyana Livestock, but before that he will go to Sixth Form he said. His father, Deonarine Ramgobin, said that “later on he will take on the business. I’m very happy for him he worked very hard.” Ramgobin gained 11 Grade ones and one Grade Two.
Studied every night
“I was really excited. I knew that I would have performed well because I studied every night,” Navita Dabicharran of Bishops’ High said yesterday. She said that she really wanted to do well and therefore studied diligently. She obtained 11 Grade Ones. She intends to pursue studies in pharmacy at the University before moving on to other fields of interest, of which she was unsure. She said that students need to have a desire to succeed if they want to do well and have to remain focused through the process. She said that her teachers, especially Ms. Harris, Ms. Rose and Mrs. Daly were pivotal to her success.
While he is satisfied and happy with his success,
Stefan Farrier found the moment bittersweet since he is not able to share it with his mother who lives abroad. He gained 11 Grade Ones, which he attributed to a lot of late nights and hard work. While the task was not easy he said it was a rich experience made possible by his time at Bishops’ High. He intends to proceed to Queens College in September to do his ‘A’ levels where he intends to continue working hard towards his dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.
He believes that students should not think negatively when approaching the exams but believe in themselves and their capabilities. He expressed gratitude to his teachers at Bishops’ especially Ms. Harris whom he said taught not only Biology but the principles of life as well.
He considers her one of the most influential persons in his life and her support was critical to his success.
“I couldn’t believe it, I was totally overjoyed,” said Soyini McPherson when she was contacted yesterday by this newspaper. “I thank God, the awesome teachers at Bishops’ and my parents for making my success possible,” she said. She added that she had a study partner and this she thinks helped prepare her for the exams. She gained 11 Grade Ones and one Grade Two. The current issue of climate change has influenced her decision to study environmental studies at UG in September. She advised students to keep focused and to ask questions when they are in the classroom so that they understand the topics well.
Shabeena Ramjohn was unaware of the results but said it felt great since she had worked very hard. Ramjohn of Bishops’ High gained 11 Grade Ones and one Grade Two. She was thankful that her intense studying and sacrifices paid off in her success. She will be heading to the university next month to commence studies in medicine. She urged students to study hard and put their best foot forward in everything they do. She expressed appreciation to her family and all the teachers at her school for her success.
While Mahendra Doraisami was surprised at doing well, he said it was expected in some measure. He secured 11 Grade Ones and one Grade Two. He said that this success represents another milestone for him since he always did well in school. However he added that it came from hard work. Being religious, he said his belief in God helped him along with the support from his teachers and parents. “I couldn’t do it without them,” he emphasised. In September, he will be a student at the University of Guyana pursuing Civil Engineering. Doraisami of Queen’s College said that it was necessary for students to believe in themselves, work hard and never give up since one can achieve anything.
And reeling from the fact that she made it in the top 27 was Tishana Narine who gained 11 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos.
The 16-year-old could not contain her excitement and stole off to inform her mother via her cell phone. “I’m very, very happy and very satisfied with my grades. I’ve worked very hard to achieve this and I would like to thank all my family especially my mother, my two aunts, and my teacher,” she said.
Anna Hamid of Saraswatie Vidya Niketan said that she was “okay” with her results. She calmly stated, “I’ve expected to do well.” She gained 11 Grade Ones and one Grade Two.
She said yesterday she is yet to make up her mind what she will do now or what career path she hopes to walk.
Other top performers were Elizabeth December of West Demerara Secondary School, who gained 11 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos and Pulmattie Rabinchand of the JC Chandisingh Secondary, who gained 11 Grade Ones.
