The East Canje Berbice area stole the spotlight regionally at the National Grade Six Assessment with a student from the Cumberland Primary School not only topping the region but tying with two others for the country’s top position.
The Rose Hall Estate Primary School secured the region’s second position with a total of four students from Canje securing a spot in the country’s top one per cent.
Twelve-year-old Angelica Subryan, who scored 518 marks thus securing her place at the Queen’s College, was still coming to grips with the feeling of topping the country and region on Saturday morning. Sitting between her proud parents at their Cumberland Village, East Canje Berbice residence, she recalled that after her name was announced by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, she was extremely “happy and overwhelmed.”
Her parents, Jermaine and Sharon Subryan, relayed that when they were informed the previous night that they would have to take her to Georgetown for the announcement they realised that she had done extremely well but topping the country was not what they expected.
In preparing for her examination, Subryan said she was devoted to studying. Her teacher, Sherilee Samuels- Reid went above and beyond, her parents related. The aspiring doctor recalled that she had to sacrifice a lot of playing and television time for studies – something she does not regret.
Subryan was a part of Reid’s class from grade five to grade six. She also attended Reid’s after-school lessons. Reid has been in the teaching profession for 29 years and has been teaching grades Five and Six for the last 19 years with top students from the region emerging from her class almost every year. However, this is the first year her student secured the top position for the region and the country.
On Saturday, Reid said, she was elated at the news stressing that she knew Angelica had the potential to excel.
Subryan’s father expressed his gratitude to the school and Reid for recognising his daughter’s potential and talent. “Normally you would hear people say persons would go the extra mile but I must say congratulations to Miss Sherilee Reid… She really stepped up, I don’t think that she went the extra mile but she took them miles further, she pushed and she did a lot, she really did a teacher’s job to bring them successfully out.”
He also noted, that during the pandemic the Ministry of Education provided worksheets which Angelica’s mother used to ensure that education remained on the front burner – ultimately a collaborative effort that led to success.
Jermaine advised parents to remain supportive of their children, noting that every child has their own ability and potential. He said, it’s important as parents that the work is “put in at home” which makes a big difference.
Also emerging from Miss Reid’s class is 12-year-old Zakariya Jafar from Canefield, East Canje Berbice, who secured the region’s fifth position with 511 marks and a spot at Queen’s College.
Jafar relayed, that he sacrificed his spare time to study in order to come out successfully at the examination. According to Jafar, he also attended Miss Reid’s after-school lessons.
He has expressed an interest in science and hopes to one day to become a biochemist.
His father, Shakeer Jafar, a former teacher at the Cumberland Primary School, said that he was proud of young Jafar and acknowledged that Miss Reid worked a lot with the boy. The father noted that there were a few times he would explain some of the work to his son in support of his efforts.
Meanwhile, securing the region’s second position was Martin Jagmohan from the Rose Hall Estate Primary School with a score of 513. Jagmohan, who is from Canefield, East Canje Berbice, said after the news broke he was extremely happy.
Dedicated time
In preparing for the examination, Jagmohan said, that he dedicated time after school and in the evenings to study the various subjects. “I am very happy; I am proud of myself. I was aiming for a very high school.”
The aspiring doctor expressed great appreciation to his grandfather, Jagmohan, 63, a retired GuySuCo excavator operator who has been behind him through it all. According to the grandfather, he found modern mathematics to be extremely easy to comprehend and so he would often step in and guide his grandson.
He would also often give the young lad various mathematical problems to solve.
Jagmohan’s dream is to attend the Berbice High School (BHS) which he regards as a high standard school in the region. Questioned if finance was not an issue whether he would want to attend a school in Georgetown, Jagmohan replied “no,” as he expressed his desire to attend BHS.
Jagmohan and his grandfather also thanked his class teacher, Banmattie Arjune, who worked tirelessly with Jagmohan and the rest of her class.
Arjune who was jumping for joy when the Sunday Stabroek visited the Rose Hall Estate Primary School on Friday, expressed how proud she was of Martin. Arjune has over 29 years in the teaching profession. Although she had spent most of her career at the Cumberland Primary School she was relocated to the Rose Hall Estate Primary School where she gave the Grade Six students – a class of over 40 – her all.
She also pointed out the support Martin received from his grandfather, whom he grew up with.
Also emerging from Arjune’s class was Naresh Shivkumar, 11, with a score of 507 earning him a sixth position in the region and a coveted spot at the Bishops’ High School. Shivkumar also secured a spot in the country’s top one per cent.
After news broke that Naresh was in the top ten for the region, he told the Sunday Stabroek, “I feel like I’m about to burst.”
The well-spoken young man, said, “I felt like to run and scream and I did.”
He recalled, that his parents also started to scream when they heard of the results. Naresh’s father was one of the workers left without a job after the closure of the Rose Hall Estate by the previous administration – something a young Naresh had to witness firsthand. However, his parents Satesh and Dhanwattie Shivkumar ensured that his education was not affected in any way.
After the closure, Satesh sought part-time jobs until he was employed with a private contractor for some time.
However, after the process of reopening the sugar estate by the present government commenced Satesh was reemployed and promoted to the post of foreman of the field workshop – which ultimately reduced the financial burden.
The man said that having secure employment is something he cherishes as it ensures that he can properly provide for his family and that the education of his children is fully supported.
The four students were all in the country’s top one per cent and they all agreed that it was a collaborative effort from their teachers and parents that pushed them through Grade Six and the examination.
