Three of Guyana’s top performers at the 2023 Carib-bean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, who all attended Queen’s College (QC) and spoke with this newspaper last month, are currently moving ahead with other academic pursuits.
Seventeen-year-old Arthur Roberts wrote 23 subjects and attained 17 grade ones, 5 grade twos and 1 grade three. “I feel content, but I am not exactly satisfied with my performance because you know many people go into the examination with the intention of passing every aspect of it, even though I would have gotten twos and threes for me I don’t see it as a pass since I am accustomed to aiming for perfection but as I said I am contented but not satisfied,” Roberts related to this newspaper.
Back in 2018, Roberts who attended the New Guyana School had emerged among the nation’s top performers at the National Grade Six Assessment with 525 marks.
He made it clear that writing 23 subjects was not for the acquisition of popularity but to challenge himself.
He secured sixth position among Guyana’s top performers by attaining 75% and above in: Additional Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Bio-logy, Chemistry, Physics, Caribbean History, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, English A, Food, Nutrition and Health, Human and Social Biology, Information Technology, Integrated Science, General Mathematics, Office Administration, Physical Education, Principles of Accounts and Principles of Business. His grade twos were in Economics, English B, French, Geography and Social Studies, and the grade three in Religious Education.
Roberts attributed his success to discipline, time management, and support from teachers, students and family.
The young man who hails from Schoonord, West Bank Demerara expressed elation at emerging as one of the nation’s top performers as according to him, “it was a dream come true”. He is currently pursuing the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) and stated that with his proclivity for natural sciences especially Chemistry, he is adamant that he can play an integral role in the arena of medicine.
He urged students, pursuing the upcoming 2024 CSEC exams to never be complacent but stay committed to their academic pursuits and adapt great time management skills.
Tashmee Ganesh, 17, wrote 20 subjects and attained 17 grade ones and 3 grade twos.
She attained grade ones in: Agricultural Science, Biology, Caribbean History, Chemistry, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, English A & B, Human and Social Bio-logy, Building Technology, Electrical Technology, Mechanical Technology, Information Technology, Physics, Portuguese, Principles of Business, Social Studies and Technical Drawing. Her grade twos were in Additional Mathematics, General Mathematics and Spanish and she came in eighth among the country’s CSEC top performers.
In an interview with Stabroek News, Ganesh of Enmore, East Coast Demerara expressed elation at her achievements as she dubbed her efforts satisfactory.
The aspiring petroleum engineer said that many nights she burnt the midnight oil and was satisfied with her achievements. Like Roberts she attributed her success to discipline and diligence.
“Writing 20 subjects is not easy, and you can’t bluff your way through, you have to put in the work. You have to make sure you submit your SBAs on time and study hard,” she noted..
Ganesh is currently studying petroleum engineering at the University of Guyana and is looking ahead with the hope of acquiring a government scholarship to attain her master’s degree and play an integral role in the oil and gas sector.
Naila Rahaman who also wrote 20 subjects, attained 17 grade ones, 2 grade twos and 1 grade three, shared eighth position with several of her colleagues.
She secured grade ones in Agricultural Science, Caribbean History, Econo-mics, Electronic Document Preparation and Manage-ment, English A, English B, Food, Nutrition and Health, Geography, Human and Social Bio-logy, Information Techno-logy, Integrated Science, General Mathematics, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Religious Education, Social Studies, and Spanish. She scored grade twos in French and Theatre Arts and a grade three in Visual Arts.
In 2018 she emerged as the country’s top student at the National Grade Six Assessment with a perfect score of 529 marks, while attending the Westfield Prep School in George-town.
The 16-year-old recently represented Guyana in the US Department of State’s Youth Ambassadors Pro-gram and has moved on to pursue CAPE.
Nabeelah Rahaman, her proud mother, said that she supported Naila throughout. “Many times, I got up at night with her to study to show her that she is not alone in this,” she said.
She recounted that her daughter battled dengue fever but persisted. She ascribed her daughter’s success to moral support, diligence and hard work.
