(Trinidad Express) Twelve-year-old Guyanese national Debra Amata is the top 2015 Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) pupil in Tobago. The girl, along with her parents, moved to Tobago one year ago.
Her parents, Vivienne and Andrew Amata, are both doctors at the Scarborough General Hospital.
Debra, who attended Signal Hill Government Primary School, will head to Bishop’s High School come September. She amassed 238.29 points, according to the Division of Education.
Speaking to the media after learning of her achievement yesterday, Debra said she was relieved the wait was finally over.
“Well, I just want to tell them that they have to strive hard and they have to put in the work and they will reap great rewards,” was the advice she offered to other pupils.
Her parents were all smiles when they learned of their child’s achievement.
Almost at a loss for words, Dr Vivienne Amata said her daughter, one of three children, was always a well-disciplined child and despite her studies, she was also enrolled in the school’s football team and active in gymnastics and tennis.
“She worked hard, she studied, she used the Internet a lot, so she went beyond the textbook. So like language arts, any time there was another rule, she went to the Internet to get more about it. She was very dedicated and very disciplined,” Amata said.
Her father echoed similar sentiments. “I am very excited, ecstatic, actually. I’ve always been impressed with her. She is hard-working, she is a disciplined child and she is very intelligent,” Dr Andrew Amata said.
Teachers delighted
Her teachers, Ms Roberts and Ms Kerr, also expressed delight in Debra’s achievement.
“There are no words to express how I feel. I’m elated, overjoyed and am extremely thankful. Yes, she was extremely diligent and self-motivated,” one teacher said.
Other results
The second-placed pupil overall—Shane Telesford, of Carnbee—attended St Nicholas Private Primary.
Five pupils of Scarborough RC School captured five places in the top ten. Other schools which placed in the top ten were Belle Garden AC, Hope AC and Patience Hill Government primary schools.
