An aspiring teacher Nirvana Wimal, of Success Elementary, is this year’s top student at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).
Wimal, who was among 13,821 candidates who sat the examination on August 4th and August 5th, secured a place at Queen’s College with 524 marks.
Deja Datt, of New Guyana School, and Paris Timmerman, of Chateau Margot Primary, shared the second spot with 523 marks, followed by Jada Persaud, of Success Elementary, who scored 522 marks to earn the third spot. The fourth spot was shared by Joshua Mc Arthur, Vryheid’s Lust Primary, Shabaka Yisrael, also of Success Elementary, Aditi Joshi, of Mae’s Academy, Khevin Sandy, of Lowe’s Academy, Chelsea Persaud, of Dharmic Rama Krishna, and J’Kell Whyte, of Success Elementary, who all scored 521 marks.
The announcement of the results was made yesterday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, where Wimal, expressed her happiness that her hard work had paid off. She said that she had many sleepless nights as she explained that she attended classes, then lessons and also did homework and then studied during the week. She also attended extra lessons on weekends.
Wimal, who said she prefers
face to face learning because distractions are hard to avoid while at home, called her preparation difficult. She was also saddened by not being able to go on the usual trips to monuments etc.
She thanked Sir Wilfred Success and her parents as well as her teachers at the lessons she attended. She also encouraged other students to work hard and study and get as much information as they can. She said that they need to use their time wisely. While her mother was very proud of her, she noted that Wimal has always been a top performer.
Datt was happy and proud of herself but also gave credit to those who have supported her. “It is not just me, it is a full team of people supporting me and I feel very happy to have them because they supported me along the way,” she said. She noted that she was studying while her younger sisters were on vacation and she would be distracted by it. She added that since she was easily distracted, her mother had to remind her that she had goals that she wanted to achieve. She added that she wants to be a good influence for her siblings and that she has set the bar high for them. She added that she was not worried that they would not aim to surpass her.
Timmerman said that she didn’t expect to be a part of the country’s top ten. She admitted that while she had always wanted to be among the top performers she had resolved to settle for gaining entry to Queen’s College.
Jada Persaud said her results were unexpected and she was both relieved and overjoyed. “I’d like to thank God because without him, everything, it wouldn’t have been possible”, she said. She also thanked her teachers, who she said helped her tremendously. Her mother said that she was overjoyed and that Jada has always been competitive and wanted to come out on top. She praised the girl’s attentiveness and thanked her teachers.
Joshi told Stabroek News that it was a very long journey and there was a lot of preparation for the NGSA. She said that it took a lot of time, effort and practice. “I feel as proud as a peacock. I am very excited to get into a new school because I get to meet people who come from the different walks of life, who share ideas and also because I can go deeper into subjects to understand them better,” the 11-year-old said.
She wants to become an air traffic control officer. She has travelled to Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America, England, and India. She said that she enjoys travelling and intends to continue as she becomes older.
Chelsea Persaud, 11, said that she watched the announcement of the results in the past and to be a part of it this year was very exciting. “I didn’t even imagine being here. This is like a dream come true,” she said. She was also excited to start high school. Further, she said that she is anticipating seeing her new classmates and teachers. Her mother, a teacher, was very elated. The girl’s mother said that she is proud of her daughter for the milestone. “The effort she put in, she was rewarded today and she has achieved her goal,” her mother said. Her mother added that Chelsea, who was always a high achiever, always wanted to attend Queen’s College.
Whyte is overseas and currently in quarantine, but his mother, who attended in his place, said that he is very elated with his marks. She said that her son has been very much focused since he was a tender age. She said that he was not disadvantaged and they are happy that everything they worked towards has come to fruition. He wants to become a pilot.
There were also regional top students in attendance at the announcement. Notably, the hinterland regions exceeded expectations despite limitations in some areas on access to online learning, which was the primary means of teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking to this newspaper were three students who placed first through third place in Region Nine: Aisha De Freitas, of Arapaima Primary, who attained 517 marks to secure herself a place at Queen’s College; Kellon Jordon, of Karaudarnau Primary, and Leandro Marcello, of Aishalton Primary School, who got 507 and 505 marks, respectively, who both secured places at The Bishops’ High. The children said that they were excited and happy for their placements. They said they will be attending the schools they were placed at.
Sabastian Khan, hailing from Sixth Avenue, Bartica, in Region Seven and who attends Potaro Primary, attained 495 marks, earning him a place at St Joseph’s High. He topped the region. He said that he is excited to start his new journey at the school.
