Among the country’s top performers at last year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations are twin brothers, who achieved identical results.
Shivnarine and Shivshankar Chaitraim, who sat the exams as students of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN), were listed among the top 10 performers at the CSEC 2020 by the Ministry of Education on Friday.
The brothers both attained 17 Grade Ones and 2 Grade Twos at the examinations. They attained Grade One passes in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Social studies, Information Technology, Mathematics, English A, English B, Spanish, Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM), Principles of Business, Principles of Accounts, Office Administration, Economics, Agricultural Science, Geography and Human and Social Biology. They scored Grade Two passes in Caribbean History and Additional Mathematics.
Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, they both said that they expected to perform well at the exams but that being among the country’s top ten was not foreseen. The pair said that they were aware of their results but like many others their grades were sent back to the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) for a review. “I got my results last year from the online portal. It was around the margin I had set for myself,” Shivnarine told this newspaper. He added that following the review, there was no change done to his results and he was “bummed” about that.
Atishta Seenarine, also of SVN, tied with the two brothers. She secured Grade One passes in Additional Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, EDPM, English A, English B, Geography, Human and Social Biology, Information Technology, Mathematics, Office Administration, Physics, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Social Studies and Spanish. She attained Grade Twos in Caribbean History and Economics.
Seenarine told this newspaper, “I am actually very happy that I am among the top students of the country and that, too, the top ten. This is especially because the circumstances were very different this time and there was a lot of back and forth,” she added. “At the end of it all, it is very satisfying and also a proud moment where all of my hard work has paid off,” she added.
She is preparing to sit the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).
Reyah Hhemraj, of JC Chandisingh Secondary School, was also listed among the top performers with 17 Grade Ones and three Grade Twos. Khemraj secured Grade Ones in General Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Agricultural Science, Biology, Human and Social Biology, Information Technology, Geography, Principles of Business, Principles of Accounts, Office Administration, Economics, Physical Education, Food and Nutrition and Health, English A, EDPM and Integrated Science. She also attained Grade Twos in Caribbean History, English B and Social Studies.
“I am in a state of euphoria, I am happy with my results. It almost feels like a dream,” the teen told this newspaper. She said that she worked very hard to achieve the grades and that when the results were released in 2020 she hadn’t been recognized for her hard work. Khemraj is currently preparing to sit CAPE this year. She said she is attending Queen’s College and intends to pursue a Degree in Medicine at the University of Guyana.
Chaitra Singh, another student of the SVN, secured 16 Grade One passes and three Grade Two passes. She attained Grade Ones in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, EDPM, Office Administration, English A and English B, Spanish, Information Technology, Social Studies, Agricultural Science, Geography, Human and Social Biology, Principles of Business and Principles of Accounts. She secured Grade Twos in Caribbean History, Economics and Additional Mathematics.
Singh said that her grandmother was the first person to call her on Friday night and inform her that she had made the news for the achievement. She said that messages and calls from her friends followed. She said that she is currently overwhelmed even though she was aware that she had done well. Singh thanked her parents and sisters and family for their support. She also thanked her school, which she said “played a very important role in my achievement.”
In a live announcement via the Ministry’s Facebook page on Friday afternoon, Education Minister Priya Manickchand announced the country’s top students for CSEC and CAPE 2020. She said the results were based on data received from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) as of January 29.
Manickchand said that at the CSEC level, Bhedesh Persaud topped the country with 22 Grade Ones and one Grade Two, while Zane Ramotar has topped at the CAPE level. The minister also noted that the ministry is still awaiting reviewed results which may change the current list.
