Top Nat’l Grade Six Assessment students honoured

Aug 30, 2010 News

TAIN, CORENTYNE – The six top performers in Berbice at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment were recognized for their efforts on Friday by the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce.
The recipients were Kessa Kendall 540 marks, Victoria Harry 537, Simon Bactawar 533, Alisa Chaturi and Anthony Henry both scoring 532 each, all earned a place at Queen’s College while Jehad Ramjohn with 531 Bishop’s High School.

The top performers along with members of the Chamber, Prof. Samad and other officials.

The students each received a certificate from the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, a token of appreciation from the Republic Bank and books from Minister Robeson Benn through the Director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus Professor Daizal Samad.
At a ceremony held on Friday in the auditorium of the Berbice Campus, Professor Samad stressed the importance of the English Language. He urged the students to stay focused on their goals but yet still never to take themselves too seriously. He spoke of the disappointing results some acquired in English Language at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examination. According to him being one of the compulsory subjects for admission to the University some applications had to be turned away. He noted that the English Language is never right or wrong. It is simply appropriate or inappropriate and persons must learn to differentiate the two. He told the students that there is no need to lose the Creole Guyanese dialect but knowing when to use it goes a far way.
The award ceremony was scheduled to take on July 23rd during the opening ceremony of the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair but the inclement weather forced organizers to postpone the event.
Secretary of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce Krishnanand Raghunandan said the Chamber began this initiative in 2006 and from then has since recognized 26 high flyers at the National Grade Six Assessment. Though one of the Chamber’s main objective is to promote commerce, recognizing top academic performers is a way of nurturing the future generation. Usually it is five students per year but this year since the Expo was held in East Canje Jehad Ramjohn of the Cumberland Primary School was added to the list. His brother Trevor Ramjohn was also a top performer in 2009.
This year the Chamber expanded to include students in Region Five, making it an awards ceremony for the entire Berbice. Anthony Henry who attended the Cotton Tree Primary was the lone student from Region Five.
The Chamber also honours the top student in the Faculty of Agriculture at the Berbice Campus of the University of Guyana each year.
In presenting his overview, Mr. Raghunandan said his organization is also exploring the possibility of acquiring a permanent exhibition site in the Central Corentyne area. This venue would also be used for other events, besides the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair.
Treasurer of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce Tajpaul Adjodhea expressed gratitude to the Director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus Professor Daizal Samad, the Republic Bank and other sponsors who made the event possible.