Ecstatic Diamond/Grove Primary in major showing at NGSA …gains four QC, two Bishops places

Jul 04, 2018 News

Education and school officials with the top students yesterday.

Proud parents Kumar and Sharema Lakeram and their son yesterday their daughter, Esha Lakeram, who brought fourth in the NGSA, during her graduation exercise at New Diamond/Grove Primary School.

Six years ago, in a new housing scheme that appeared to have outgrown itself, the previous administration took a decision to open a new primary school.
That decision to build the New Diamond/Grove Primary School, East Bank Demerara is now being lauded, thanks to a major showing at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), the results of which were announced last week.
According Wendy Norville-Chichester, the Headmistress, the performance of the government school is more than something to be proud of.
She was speaking to students, education officials, parents, teachers and other invitees during the graduation ceremony of the Grade Six classes.
The school managed four places at Queen’s College, two at The Bishops High, and places at President’s College, St. Stanislaus, St. Roses and St. Joseph.
Esha Lakeram, the Valedictorian, was able to snatch fourth overall in the exams in the country.
Not bad for a relative newcomer of a school if taken into consideration that top three institutions are all privately-run ones.
Esha, in her Valedictorian speech, said that while many top performers may be pressured to choose what she dubbed as the ‘fancy professions’, she isn’t sure as yet what she wants but for now she has a passion of becoming an international figure skater and hopes to pursue this dream sooner than later overseas.
“I am really not sure what I really want to become but what I do know is that for now, I would like to become a figure skater and that is the only thing on my mind at the moment,” she said with a smile.
Also going to Queen’s College from the school are Jaya Jamuna, Elijah Gomes and Safraz Khan.
The school managed two places in the top 10 and three at the regional level. It has four students named in the top 100.
In her report, the Headmistress was subdued, saying that the past year was a “satisfactory” one.
The school has just over 1,000 students and is battling for space, with permission granted recently for more classrooms to be constructed.
In the meantime, it has to pay close attention to admissions. There is a clamour by parents for their children to be admitted.
The official says the school has 36 staffers and is now moving to acquire a cold storage facility to expand its school feeding programme.
The showing of the school was largely thanks to one teacher who believed that her students had what it takes.
For six years now, Ms. Robin Wilson has been taking her Grade Five classes to the exams.
That meant she spent two years with them, moulding them, cajoling them.
“It is a not a new strategy. Some teachers prefer working with their students like this. You are able to mould them and work on their weaknesses for two years.”
This has been the best performance by her class in the six years at the school.
Ms. Wilson believes that she has found the right groove.
Three of her students managed perfect scores in Maths, a big plus.
“Over the last term or two, the students came in for 7:45hrs and we started working on past papers. Practice, practice, practice. I believe in stiff competition. While people may be offended in fostering competition, it helps. You get children to work harder. I would encourage competition.”
A mother of three, the 35-year-old mom has been working with her students, giving them extra lessons.
It is needed; she defends, as extra lessons allow students to go deeper.
In her first time, her class managed some secondary schools with one Queen’s College placement that last time around.
“No, I am not shocked at the results. I knew the students could do it. However, Esha Lakeram surprised us…she would get about third or fourth, but has managed to come out on top. She is reserved but I saw something in her. She really worked.”
For now, it is back to Grade Five for Ms. Wilson. She is confident of making the news in two years time again.