Fatima Karim of St Rose’s High School and Kayshav Tiwari of Queen’s College each secured 19 Grade One passes at this year’s Caribbean Examination Council’s (CXC) Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams, according to results announced by the Ministry of Education yesterday.
Karim who sat 20 subjects secured a Grade Two in Chemistry and Grade Ones in Biology, Physics, Integrated Science, Human and Social Biology, Agricultural Science, Additional Mathematics, Mathematics, Geography, Physical Education, Information Technology, English A, English B, Social Studies, Economics, Principles of Business, Office Administration, Spanish, French, and Electronic Document Preparation Management (EDPM).
Speaking with Stabroek News, Karim said that while she expected to do well the news that she is a top performer is a “pleasant surprise.”
“I feel very proud that I was able to do so well in all of my subjects. I am super excited and thinking towards the future now that I have jumped my first hurdle,” she excitedly shared explaining that it is her intention to attend the University of Texas at Austin in pursuit of a degree in Petroleum Engineering.
Stating that it was slightly easier than she expected to study for 20 subjects, Karim however noted that she had to buckle down and study because she was aiming to qualify for the scholarship offered by CXC to the region’s top performer.
Tiwari of Queen’s College who was also awarded 19 Grade Ones was able to secure all A profiles in 18 of those subjects. He sat exams in Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, English A , English B, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Integrated Science, Human and Social Biology, Agricultural Science, Economics, Principles of Accounts, Principle of Business, Information Technology , EDPM, Spanish, Religious Education, Social Studies and Geography.
He told Stabroek News that he always knew he could achieve whatever he set out to do.
“I wanted to write 19 subjects because I wasn’t sure what my career path would take. While right now I intend to pursue an entrepreneurial career in the field of engineering and I would also like to pursue studies in philosophy later in life,” he said adding that his immediate plans are to attend the Nation’s University where he will sit EdExcel Advanced Levels.
While he admits that his study schedule was heavy requiring him to dedicate the hours of 1 am to 4 am to revision, he maintains that he was still able to have an active and fulfilling social life.
“I played cricket and table tennis and went out with my friends who were incredibly supportive as were my parent and teachers. Students need to recognise that excellence is not a skill, it’s an attitude. Make up your mind about what you want and chase it,” he said.
Tiwari’s classmate Aadilah Ali is also grateful to family, friends and teachers who supported her in her pursuit of 22 subjects.
“I feel very elated about my accomplishment, I’m so happy! Firstly I would like to thank Allah for blessing me with this achievement and secondly to my family for their endless support and encouragement. My teachers and all my friends for all their kind words and support. I couldn’t have done it alone and I owe everyone around me,” she told Stabroek News
Ali secured Grade Ones in Additional Math, Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Electrical and Electronic Technology, English A, English B, Geography, Home Economics Management, Human and Social Biology, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Office Administration and Physical Education, Grade Twos in History, Social Studies and Spanish and Grade Three in Visual Arts.
She plans to continue her journey to a career in paediatrics by attending Sixth form where she will sit CAPE.
Ali is followed by Ramkumarie Ramdass of Sarawati Vidya Nakitan (SVN) who earned 18 Grade Ones and One Grade Two.
Ramdass said she was “happy and relieved” that the results are finally out and that she has done so well.
She could not believe her eyes when she checked the results online and had to “look twice” to confirm that she had done so well.
Her advice to other students is to “be focused, know what you want and know how much you have to work to achieve it. Distractions would come but you have to know how to deal with them.”
She was grateful to her parents who “supported me all the way and my teachers who sacrificed their weekends” to ensure that she and the other students excelled.
Ramdass also thanked her teachers from the Meten-Meer-Zorg Primary because “without such a good foundation,” she could not have attained such good grades.
She plans to begin a career in law, a dream she has had since primary school by moving on the ‘A’ Level at the School of the Nations.
In fifth place is Sariah Singh of Queen’s College who secured 18 Grade Ones.
Singh told Stabroek News that she is contented with her results.
“I’m very proud of myself but I must thank God for guiding me through every step of the way. I thank my family who have tirelessly supported my efforts, my teachers for the hard work and guidance and my friends for all their support,” She said.
Singh will be returning to Queen’s College to study for a CAPE Associate Degree in Natural Science. This is the next step on her path to a career in medicine.
Singh is followed by Joshua Indarjit of Skeldon Line Path Secondary School in Region 6.
The 17-year-old who scored 17 Grade Ones said he was not surprised at the results since he has been topping his class from the beginning of high school.
Divulging that his study patterns were different from other students in his class, he explained that he intends to further his studies in engineering.
“I didn’t use the traditional timetable, I just went with my mood and studied how I wanted to,” he said.
The younger sister of last year’s top performer Victoria Najab has this year made her own mark. Kimberly Najab of SVN placed seventh in the country and the second best in her school with 15 Grade Ones and three Grade Twos.
Taking a break from her vacation overseas to speak with Stabroek News, she said she had “expected to do better, but [was] very satisfied with what [she] achieved.” She admitted that she tried to meet the grades of her sister, who was her inspiration.
Stating that she “hardly ever studied” relying instead on her memory, which is a habit she hopes to change someday, Najab shared her plans to further her studies in business at an advanced level and hopefully become a prosperous businesswoman.
She was grateful to “God for guiding me in a successful path, my parents for supporting me throughout my journey in school and finally my teachers. Without them this achievement would have never been possible.”
Kevall Lall of Anna Regina Multilateral School is the top performer for Region 2. Lall told Stabroek News that he was “confused and very, very surprised” when he learnt he had secured 15 Grade Ones.
“I didn’t expect this; the subjects were hard and I was expecting a lot more Grade Twos,” he said.
Having mastered English A, English B, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, EDPM, IT, Electricity, Office Administration, POB, Physical Education as well as Human and Social Biology, the budding civil engineer plans to move on to CAPE in the new academic year.
Pritisha Baldeo, a student of SVN, who placed ninth in the country told this newspaper, “I am very happy and excited about my grades… I really appreciate my grades and I feel very proud.”
She was expecting to do well and was happy to have reached “my expectation.”
She told this newspaper too that it was “tough studying all through the night. But now I can finally say that my hard work has paid off.”
Baldeo, who hails from Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, plans to further her studies in the US in the field of medicine and hopes to become a paediatrician.
She said her success did not depend on her hard work alone and thanked God for helping her as well as her parents for always being there whenever she needed help.
She was also grateful to her sister and teachers for helping with SBAs and for always correcting her whenever she went wrong.
Her classmate Narindra Persaud, 16, who also hails from Zeelugt told Stabroek News that he was very happy and overwhelmed at his results.
He added: “I always think that I should do the best of my ability. I could have done better but then if that’s my best then I accept it.”
Persaud said he was nervous about the results being released but after checking online, he calmed down.
“The hard work and late night studying have finally paid off,” the soft-spoken teen told this newspaper.
He thanked his parents for supporting him and his teachers who were always willing to help him as well as his classmates and others who assisted him.
Atiesha Brant of Anna Regina Multilateral School, earned eleventh place in the country by securing 14 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos.
In twelfth place is another SVN student, Aravinda Prasad, 16, of De Willem, WCD, who secured 20 passes including 14 Grade Ones, One Grade Two, four Grade Threes and one Grade Four. Prasad said that he had expected to do well and had even aimed for better results.
He said he had topped the class throughout the three years he had attended the school, after being transferred from the Bishops’ High.
He was removed from the city school because of the extra lessons he had to take and said that at SVN, all of the teachers, who were dedicated and always present at school, were “pushing the work.”
He was well prepared for the exams and said he studied from 10 pm to 2 am and did not watch too much television during that time.
He plans to further his studies in civil engineering or “something in the science field.”
He thanked everyone who contributed to his success, especially his parents, as well as other relatives who encouraged him a lot.
He is followed by Vanassa Ramnarain and Jose Cummings of Berbice High who have secured the second and third spots in Region Six.
Ramnarain who wrote 15 subjects secured 14 Grade Ones and one Grade Two. Speaking with Stabroek News she said she was “overwhelmed with happiness.”
“It feels really good…being in the top twenty. I’m making my parents proud, my entire family, my well-wishers and my teachers proud. I’m doing it for me but I’m also doing it for them, it feels good to see the people you love smile, but it feels better when you are the reason they are smiling,” She said.
Ramnarain, who was a top ten performer at the National Grade Six Examination and topped the region for the National Grade Nine Examination stated that she experienced some difficulties when writing the Agriculture Science examination, the subject for which she was awarded a Grade Two.
Her classmate, Cummings obtained 13 Grade Ones, three Grade Twos and two Grade Threes.
Cummings, who was too shy to speak, indicated that he was very happy about the grades obtained. His father, Olric Cummings told this newspaper that he did not expect his son to do so well and he is proud of him.
Angelie Persaud of Queen’s College follows the Berbicians with 13 Grade Ones and three Grade Twos. She told Stabroek News that she is happy with and proud of her results.
“I must thank God, my family, my classmates and my teachers who supported me every step of the way. These results are proof that if you put your mind to something and work hard you will achieve,” she said.
Persaud, will be returning to Queen’s College to pursue a CAPE Associate Degree in Natural Science with the intention of having a medical career.
SVN student Geeta Camacho, when contacted, said she was “very excited and very satisfied because I was expecting to achieve this.”
Her achievement, of 17 passes including 13 Grade Ones, came as no surprise to her family members and teachers who would have expected her to do well.
She said travelling from Georgetown to SVN to attend school “was a bit challenging but I got accustomed to it and made friends on the way.”
Camacho made a study timetable so she could manage her time effectively, and said her hard work paid off.
She recalled that she never “put off studying for the last minute” because of the “in-class test” that was held every two weeks. She said, “That helped to keep us up to date with what we did because we never had to wait until the end of the term to study.”
Her advice to other students is to set goals that they know they can achieve and work towards them. She has already registered at the University of Guyana to study civil and environmental engineering.
Bharrat Sookdeo, another SVN student, has attained the 17th position and was elated when he saw the results online while holidaying overseas.
His father, Rampersaud Sookdeo said the family is extremely happy at the good news but they were not surprised at his achievement because he always performed well.
Describing his son as a “very good kid” who “loves to pray,” Sookdeo said his son would further his studies at a college in New York.
In 18th place is Shafeek Rayman of Queen’s College who secured 13 Grade Ones and One Grade Two.
Min Wen Gong of Queen’s College said she was satisfied with the 13 Grade Ones she has earned. The soft spoken Gong who is unsure of the exact career path she wishes to follow will also be returning to Queen’s College to pursue a CAPE Associate Degree in Natural Science.
She has expressed gratitude to her “parents, sister and family for their support,” adding that she “would also like to thank all of my teachers and friends for their help during this journey.”
According to preliminary results announced by the Ministry of Education yesterday, 12,809 Guyanese students sat examinations in 35 subjects. Of that number 157 students secured eight or more Grade Ones, whilst 46 students were able to secure eleven or more Grade Ones. (Bibi Oosman, Shabna Ullna and Mariah Lall contributed to this story.