New Guyana School student tops NGSA

Jun 13, 2014 News

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“This is just the beginning; the sky is the limit,” Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, was heard telling some of the top performers in the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) as she scurried around the city to personally congratulate them yesterday.
The Minister, accompanied by some of her senior officers, braved inclement weather to meet the pupils and teachers at their schools and present them with bouquets of appreciation.
The Minister had earlier announced the NGSA results at a press conference convened at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).
The announcement saw the Ministry adopting an inclusive twist which embraced technological advances, thereby allowing the nation to share in the moment as it was streamed live via the Ministry’s website (www.education.gov.gy) and simultaneously broadcast via the National Communications Network (NCN)’s radio and television.

TOP PERFORMERS
JORREL DE SANTOS
12-year-old Jorrel De Santos of the New Guyana School was announced by the Minister as the country’s top performer when she proudly announced the results. De Santos scored a total of 533 marks.
The resident of Prashad Nagar was yesterday surrounded by his relatives and teachers when education officials and media operatives visited his school.
His father, Levan De Santos, said he was elated that his son did well, but went on to note that he had expected the outstanding performance.
“We are all very proud of Jorrel.”
His mother who is currently based overseas was reportedly also excited to hear the good news.
According to the young De Santos, “I expected to do well, but not this well…”
He chuckled as he recalled how he made lots of sacrifices in order to achieve his success. “I had to give up the time I spent on my computer and spend more time studying,” said the lad who hopes to become a neurosurgeon.

ALIAH MOHAMED
“I was stunned,” related 11-year-old Aliah when asked about her reaction to her accomplishment. The School of the Nations pupil secured 531 marks, effectively allowing her to be named the second top performer.
“Right now I am feeling very happy and surprised at the same time…I am excited to go to high school,” said the Lamaha Gardens resident.
According to the aspiring lawyer, she recognised the need to work really hard and was willing to sacrifice watching too much television and playing games to remain focused on her books.

RAVI SINGH
With his 530 score, 11-year-old Ravi Singh of Westfield Prep was able to claim for himself the third top performing position. He during an interview yesterday said that he was long convinced that his dedication to his studies was going to pay off.
“I’d hoped to get something good and I did…I went to lessons and I stayed up very late at nights sometimes until after 11, but I still was able to wake up and attend school,” he recounted. Singh recalled that his Saturdays and Sundays were just as engaging, adding that, “I hardly had any time to rest…”
“This is a stressful journey but you have to brave-up and do your best,” was his advice to other pupils who will next year be participating in the NGSA. He has plans to become a pilot.

ISAAC MALLAMPATI
Twelve-year-old Isaac Mallampati of the New Guyana School with his 527 score, placed fourth in the country. The lad of few words, who resides at 100 ‘A’ Sixth Street Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, thanked his parents and teachers for helping him to be successful.

ANALISE SAMAROO
According to 11-year-old Analise Samaroo of School of the Nations, while she is happy with her performance, she did not expect to do so well.  She scored 525 and claims her main supporters were her teachers, parents and friends, all of whom encouraged her considerably.
“Without them I don’t think I would have been able to do it,” said the young girl who related that she has plans of becoming a Spinal Surgeon.

KRYSTAL SINGH
Kyrstal Singh said that with intense studying prior to the exam, she knew that she had to come out successful. The 11-year-old pupil of Success Elementary School scored 524 marks and placed sixth in the country. She said that after learning that she would be attending Queen’s College she became overly excited.
“I got the school of my dreams” she proudly told this publication. Asked about her future goals, the lass related that she one day hopes to become an architect.
“I would watch my aunt do her work and I feel so inspired.”

JEREMIAH BENTHAM
Jeremiah Bentham, a 12-year-old of La Parfait Harmonie was overwhelmed when he got the news of his outstanding performance. He placed sixth at the NGSA having acquired 524 marks. The pupil of Winfer Gardens said that he “studied all night, gave up television…and a lot of things,” which he believed propelled him in the right direction.
“It’s like I can run, skip, jump all at the same time, but I’m generally grateful to God, my mother, and my teachers for my success,” he noted.

JERON BOUCHER
Happy was the single word uttered by 11-year-old Jeron Boucher to describe how he felt about his performance. The pupil of Genesis Early Childhood School was able to outdo his counterparts, with his 524 score allowing him to place sixth in the country. He said that he studied hard and refrained from indulging in reading story books in the run-up to the exam.
The Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara resident recalled how he would routinely wake-up in the wee hours to study, a practice he said has paid off.
“I was simply elated when I heard about my performance…I can’t fully explain it, but I’m jubilant.” He credits God, his parents and teachers for his outstanding achievement.

SHANIA DE GROOT
Twelve-year-old Shania De Groot said that she was pleasantly surprised that her name was called as one of the top students in the NGSA. She told Kaieteur News that she became aware that she had placed in the top 10 while watching a television broadcast. She scored 523 marks and thereby placed ninth at the NGSA.
“After I heard my name I began jumping and screaming”. The pupil of Success Elementary School said that she had sacrificed many things as she was preparing for the examinations.
“I had to give up the TV, and as for the computer I was only allowed when I had assignments” she recalled, adding that many nights she would go to bed after midnight as she would be engaged in studies for hours. She has plans to become a lawyer or doctor.

REUBEN STANLEY
Reuben Stanley of Kuru Kururu Linden Soesdyke Highway and a pupil of Mae’s Under 12 placed ninth in the country with his 523 score. Stanley is an ardent lover of cricket. When Kaieteur news caught up with the young achiever yesterday understandably he was busy playing cricket.  “I had to give up my cricket for a while, but it was all for the best,” said Stanley, who intends to eventually become “a lawyer and a dentist when I grow up, or any one of the two will do.”

OTHER TOP PERFORMING PLACES
Also securing top performing places at the NGSA are Aimee Ali of the Success Elementary School; Thomas Singh of Marian Academy; Emily De Agrella of Mae’s Under 12; Arielle Lewis of St Margaret’s Primary; Manoj Lachman of the Academy of Excellency and Amrita Ghandatt of Enmore Hope Primary School. All six secured 11th position at the NGSA, as each scored 522 marks.
The NGSA was written on April 15 and 17, 2014 and saw a total of 15,227 candidates participating, according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand. She disclosed yesterday that the candidates had previously participated in the National Grade Two Assessment in 2010 and the National Grade Four Assessment in 2012.
Moreover, the results that were released yesterday were designed to give a report of the candidates’ overall performances at three assessments since a percentage of the marks of the Grades Two and Three Assessments were combined with the marks gained at the NGSA.
Candidates were assessed in the subject areas of Mathematics, English, Science and Social Studies.
According to Minister Manickchand five per cent of each candidate’s Grade Two score in Mathematics and English and 10 per cent of the Grade Four Score in the same subjects were added to 85 per cent of each candidate’s score in those subjects. The combined scores in Mathematics and English were added to the scores gained in Science and Social Studies.
Moreover, the highest possible standardised scores obtainable were: Mathematics – 136, English – 132, Science – 135 and Social Studies – 137, thereby allowing for the highest possible attainable total score to be 540.
And based on the analysis of the results, the cohort comprising the top one per cent reflects outstanding performances among 89 females and 79 males thereby accounting for 168 candidates.
The cut off score for those eligible to attend sixth form schools are: 514 – Queen’s College, 510 – The Bishop High School, 506 – St Stanislaus College, 503 – St Rose’s High, and 500 – St Joseph’s High.

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