Wakenaam performed creditably at the NGSA and should be rewarded

Jul 10, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
It is most enjoyable to read in your newspaper that the top performers of the NGSA would be rewarded by government with laptops and tablets. Even better was it to read that rural communities would not be disenfranchised. Congratulatory greetings are extended to all the top performers at the recently concluded National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). It is indeed admirable, to say the least, when you hear a child has attained 530 out of the maximum 535 marks.
Additionally, when one considers the efforts being exhorted by parents, teachers, friends, neighbours, governments and all other direct and indirect influences, one expects the best. I must say without any fear of contradiction that the quality of teaching in a conducive learning environment to which these students have been exposed to would have significantly played a role in their successful achievements. Maybe that is why we see the private schools performing somewhat better that the public schools. I guess it’s value for money.
I am absolutely certain that the top performers attended schools that have libraries so that they can engage in extra reading and research in their spare time. I am absolutely certain that the top performers attended schools that have the full quota of teachers thus not short changing the maximum allotted time that had to be spent with the exam pupils. I am absolutely certain that the top performers attended schools that have good learning environments (clean surroundings, proper toilet facilities, good blackboards, a functioning computer laboratory, science laboratories, a proper play field, a proper school kitchen etc) that aided in their learning.
Notwithstanding the above, when a comparison is done between the urban and rural areas of Guyana, one is solidly able to conclude that the urban areas must perform better that the rural areas. If they don’t then they are downright lazy or have unconcerned parents. I say this against the backdrop that Wakenaam does not have the quality of learning environment that our top performing schools have and students there have performed credibly well and should be rewarded. It is difficult to imagine grade 1 to 11 students riding bicycles to and from schools on a deplorable stretch of road as long as seven miles just to get to school. Imagine what happens when it rains. Wakenaam pupils did it and were successful at the NGSA. Schools in Wakenaam do not have the full quota of teachers thus one teacher sometimes teaches two levels together. It is not easy as a teacher considering different learning materials. I know of this at a specific primary school. Wakenaam teachers did it and their students were successful. Computer labs are not present in schools at Wakenaam. Libraries are not present in schools at Wakenaam. Science laboratories are not present in schools at Wakenaam. Proper kitchen areas are not present in school at Wakenaam. Not all schools possess a proper play field on the island and their is no proper transportation for our pupils.
Editor, the top student of Wakenaam got 494 marks and the second student got 484 marks. They attended two different schools. The top student attended a school to the far south of the island which has a slightly better learning environment when compared to the school the child who got second attended. The child who got second on the island attended a school in a more remote area to the far north. Given the above mentioned dilemmas which I am absolutely certain contributed to Wakenaam not being in the top 10 of the recently concluded NGSA, it is fair in my mind and I am sure in yours to say that Wakenaam has done credibly well. Given the unfortunate conditions they had to endure I say again they did damn well and should be rewarded by our government. Anyone who challenges what I am saying, I dare you to send your child to a school in Wakenaam. Editor who feels it knows it well.
Ganesh Mahipaul

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