An aspiring neurosurgeon is one of the two students who topped in this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination. Dave Chowtie, the aspiring doctor, of Queens College and Rudranauth Sankar of Anna Regina Multilateral both gained 23 Grade One passes.
Chowtie, who sat 29 subjects, earning 23 Grade Ones and 6 Grade Twos, in an interview with this newspaper, emphasized that mental preparation was key to handling the intense workload. He credited his success to the support of his teachers, who helped him complete School-Based Assessments (SBAs), and to his friends, who encouraged him along the way. Chowtie aspires to enter the medical field, with a specific focus on neuroscience, and aims to become a neurosurgeon.
Sankar, who excelled in 24 subjects, earning 23 Grade Ones and 1 Grade Two, expressed satisfaction with his results but noted that the journey was challenging. Balancing lessons and SBAs required long hours and many sleepless nights. He said he began serious preparation from fourth form, which helped him manage the workload in his final year. Sankar’s motivation stemmed from the legacy of past top performers from his school, and he hopes his results will lead to scholarship opportunities for further studies.
Meanwhile, Dhruv Narine Singh of Frasers Educational Institute achieved 14 Grade Ones and 2 Grade Twos in his 16 subjects. Singh noted the difficulty of balancing study time with personal activities but stressed that he knew the importance of not overburdening himself. He said he maintained a healthy balance by engaging in outdoor activities like cricket and football. Singh is focused on pursuing studies in economics and accounting, confident that his disciplined approach will lead to further success.
A group of students from Saraswati Vidya Niketan, including Dhapal Singh, Rameshwar Maraj, Chitra Parbhu,Rihanna Yassin and Darshanie Somwaru credited their success to consistent preparation and time management. Their school’s culture of weekend studies, late nights, and early mornings helped them stay on track. The students also highlighted the crucial role played by their parents and teachers, who supported them throughout their preparation. They emphasized that discipline and dedication were key to managing their time effectively and achieving success.
Aniya Couchman of Queen’s College topped the country at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) with Grade One in 11 units, Grade Two in 2 units and a Grade Three. Other top performers at CAPE include Latiesha McArthur also of Queen’s College, Omari Holder of St Stanislaus College and Jenna Hoosein of Saraswati Vidya Niketan. are among top performers.
