CSEC 2010 top performers unveiled

Aug 21, 2010 News

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With Queen’s College reigning supreme in terms of individual performances, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results were unveiled yesterday by Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh.
A total of 141 candidates secured grade one passes in eight and more subjects. However a mere 27 who secured Grade One passes in eight and more subjects have been identified as this year’s CSEC top performers.
These students were drawn from Queen’s College, Anna Regina Multilateral School, Mae’s Secondary, Marian Academy, Abram’s Zuil Secondary Secondary, Bishops’ High, J. C. Chandisingh Secondary, West Demerara Secondary and Saraswati Vidya Niketan.
Saieed Khalil
Leading the list unveiled by the Minister yesterday was 16-year-old Saieed Khalil, with 15 Grade Ones and One Grade Two. The Queen’s College student who hails from Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, was more than elated yesterday when this newspaper caught up with him.
“I knew before hand how much I had gotten…but I was just awaiting confirmation. I was surprised, very surprised because I didn’t expect to do this well. I thought I would’ve gotten 12 ones and four twos, in fact I had already marked my own papers in my head.”
He attributes his success to his father, Mohamed Khalil, who passed away last year. According to the young Khalil, his father was and still is an inspiration to him. He also credits his excellent performance to the support he got from his mother, Nalini Khalil, who he referred to as “an angel in disguise”, his teachers and classmates among several other persons.
“I would be here (at school) at seven in the morning. If I was nervous they would be nervous too, it was really nice how everything pulled together for me…”
According to the ambitious young man he plans on pursuing a degree in economics but does not anticipate awaiting a CSEC scholarship to venture along this path.
Kelly Ann Persaud
With 15 Grade Ones, 15-year-old Kelly Ann Persaud, said that she is more than happy with her performance. “I am not surprised that I did well but I am surprised that I did this well,” said the petite, soft-spoken lass. She follows an outstanding performance trail set by her older sibling Kia, who topped the country last year with her CSEC performance last year and just recently also excelled at CAPE.
Kelly Ann  plans on continuing at Queen’s College in her quest to achieve her ‘A’ Levels. The Prashad Nagar resident has plans to venture into the medical field with a focus on becoming a neurosurgeon. She however has no plans on studying locally as she has her eyes set on furthering her academic standing further afield. Her advice to students pursuing academic development “…is to study really, really hard. It is not as easy as people make it out to be and you just need to put in the work and dedication and don’t get distracted.”
She attributes her success to the Lord Jesus Christ “because without him nothing is possible,” her parents and sister.
Candace Barnes
“I am overwhelmed by my results. I think I worked hard and it paid off,” said an elated Candace Barnes yesterday. The 17-year-old Queen’s College student has secured 14 Grade Ones and One Grade Two CSEC passes. She intends to start sixth form next month in order to pursue her ‘A’ Levels. The Campbellville, Georgetown resident said that her hopes are set on becoming a doctor, adding that she plans on studying at the University of West Indies.
“I attribute my success to God. I prayed a lot about it, my parents and teachers really supported me…I just am grateful to everybody who helped me; they know themselves.”
Lide Forde
Though satisfied with his 14 Grade Ones and One Grade Two, 17-year-old Lide Forde, said that he is a little disappointed with one aspect of his performance.
“I am not pleased with my Grade Two in Economics. I believe that I could have done better but it makes no sense to cry over spilt milk now…” He expressed gratitude to the Supreme Being for guidance and his parents for unwavering support. His teachers both at school and extra lessons played no little role in helping him to realise his exceptional achievement. The young Forde also plans on continuing at Queen’s College next month to undertake ‘A’ Levels. He is currently eyeing the field of Cardiology as his career path.
Yeeshana Ganpat
Emerging with 13 Grade Ones and One Grade Two passes, 16-year-old Yeeshana Ganpat, of Reliance, on the Essequibo Coast has done her school, Anna Regina Multilateral School extremely proud. The young Miss Ganpat who has not yet identified any particular career path, is however, centering her attention on pursuing further studies in the area of Biology. The ardent reader of mystery novels who finds surfing the internet fun, attributed her success to her attendance of extra lessons and studying for almost two hours at nights. She plans on furthering her education at the University of Guyana in the near future.
Sophia King
She is currently enjoying some well deserved vacation time in Antigua, but 16-year-old Sophia King already has furthering her academic status as a top priority come next month. The Queen’s College student secured 13 Grade One CSEC passes. She plans on continuing at QC next month in order to write ‘A’ Levels. She credits her recent success to her parents Claudette Blair and Lennox King, as well as her three siblings, who supported her without hesitation. She also expressed much gratitude to her teachers even as she noted that “I must give praise where it is due. I could have never done it without God.” According to the Durban Backlands resident, she intends to study microbiology as she plans on becoming a Medical Laboratory Technician.
Kalina Bulkan
The atmosphere at the Bulkans residence yesterday afternoon was bittersweet, as the family celebrated their youngest daughter’s success. The family suffered a personal tragedy last November with the death of an older sister Aaliya. Kalina Bulkan, 17, secured 13 Grade One CSEC passes. Kalina, who was overwhelmed with joy yesterday, said that placing in the top ten took her by surprise. The teen explained that although she was always a high achiever, after the family tragedy she hardly attended school.
“It was really hard focusing on school….but with the help of my parents and teachers I was successful” said Kalina.
This budding doctor says she plans to enrol in the Biology programme at the University of Guyana. Kalina attributes her success to God Almighty, her parents and the countless teachers at her school – Mae’s Secondary.
Salma Ferouz
It was sheer excitement when Kaieteur News contacted 17-year-old Salma Ferouz, to congratulate her on her success. The Mae’s Secondary student gained 13 Grade Ones passes. Yesterday Ferouz’s proud parents and other relatives surrounded her offering words of congratulations. “I have to say thank you to Allah for affording me the opportunity to come out successful….and my parents and teachers for encouraging me,” said the young woman. She described the examinations as very difficult. “I’m not going to lie it was hard…but I made up my mind that I was going to be the best, so I studied extremely hard”.  According to her, having successfully completed the exam, she now believes that nothing is impossible. She intends to pursue a career in medicine.
Krysta Yan
“I always expected to do well,” said 16-year-old Krysta Yan. The Marian Academy student gained 13 grade one passes. When asked how she prepared for the exam, Krysta told Kaieteur News that she studied everyday and took extra lessons. She believes that her love for reading helped her tremendously. The young woman attributes her success to her family and teachers who she claims were very involved. “My family in and out of Guyana was always involved…so I had to make them proud,” said the teen.
Krysta who was adjudged valedictorian for her school intends to pursue a career in Law.
Come September, Krysta said that she will be attending School of the Nations.
Shivanie Harry
‘A’ Levels is also the next step for 17-year-old Shivanie Harry. The Queen’s College student who hails from LaGrange on the West Bank of Demerara, secured 12 Grade One and Two Grade Two passes. She credits her success to God, her parents, her three aunts and cousins and of course her teachers. The budding young woman said that she hopes to become an Economist, thus her plans of securing a doctorate in Economics.
Bibi Safia Khan
Bibi Safia Khan could not hide her excitement after learning of her CSEC success yesterday. The 17-year-old Anna Regina Multilateral School student said she studied sporadically for about two hours at nights and would ensure that she got at least eight hours sleep leading up to the examinations.
The elder of two siblings, the aspiring Pediatrician\Pharmacist said that although she always performed creditably she did not anticipate the results she got. She believes that extra lessons played a major role in her success as did her parents and school teachers.

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