Top CSEC and CAPE performers set eyes on science and engineering careers

Aug 16, 2025 News

---

By Francwa Fortune

Kaieteur News – This year’s top performers at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) all intend to pursue careers in the science and engineering fields.

Some of the high-flyers spoke with Kaieteur News on Friday, moments after the announcement was made at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Arthur Roberts of Queen’s College (QC) who is the country’s top CAPE performer, wrote 13 subjects and secured nine Grade Ones and four Grade Twos. He told Kaieteur News that he intends to challenge his studies in the field of science or research.

Roberts, who has performed consistently from primary to secondary school, thanked God, his teachers, family, colleagues and his community for supporting him throughout his journey. He said there is no one route to success and advised students to improve their strategy until it works for them.

“No man is an island and similarly, I am also not an island, but I am only here because of those people who have pushed me here. I’m a representation of all those people that have impacted me in my life thus far,” Roberts said.

In 2018, the teen had secured second place in the country at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) gaining a place at the country’s leading secondary school – Queen’s College. He then secured 23 CSEC subjects (17 Grade Ones, 5 Grade Twos and 1 Grade Three) in 2023 and in 2024 he secured 6 Grade One passes at CAPE.

Michael Henry also of QC has his eyes set on becoming an engineer or businessman. The lad who wrote 10 CAPE subjects said time management was key to his success. He noted that it was a challenging journey but he overcame through trial and error.

“I feel very good that the hard work paid off. I found the past papers very helpful and that was the main tool I used. I don’t think you should necessarily use one method but use what works for you,” Henry said.

Meanwhile, Jayden Adrian also a student of QC wrote 27 CSEC subjects. He is the top performer for those examinations. He told this publication that he intends to walk in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by becoming a mechanical engineer.

Notwithstanding, the elated young man said he also has a passion for aeronautics.

“I feel very fulfilled because that’s all I was working for, for the past two years and I couldn’t settle for anything less given the hard work I put in,” he stated. Adrian said he chose to study 27 subjects to obtain a government scholarship to study abroad.

Odwin Bouyea, an aspiring electrical engineer, who attended the Fraser’s Educational Institute wrote 21 CSEC subjects securing 19 Grade Ones and one Grade Two and one Grade Three.

The young man said finding motivation to study late at night was a challenge for him. He said his school days started at 08:00h and ended at 20:00h. Notwithstanding the challenge, he said he turned to God while noting that his mother was his pillar throughout his journey.

“I had many sources of motivation. First off God was a very big part in where I am today, my mother as well who was the pillar in my life. She played both the role of the father and the mother in my life, and the teachers as well they pushed us to get us to receive these great results,” Bouyea said.

He encouraged the next batch of students to endure the challenges and the journey no matter how tired, demotivated or indiscipline they feel.

“Find that discipline, find that motivation in yourself, what makes you go, what you want to achieve… find that and it will keep you going,” Bouyea shared.

Safina Dowding attended the Abram Zuil Secondary School where she wrote 21 CSEC subjects. Dowding is an aspiring lawyer, a therapist or psychologist.

The young lady shared that her journey was somewhat nerve-wrecking since she was initially preparing to sit 17 subjects at the examination. However, her teachers and family saw her true potential and encouraged her to do sit more subjects just four months before the exams.

“It was a journey. The time for studies had to go up and I use to wake up and study from 12:30am to 5am, catch an hour sleep and then prepare for school and have lessons till probably 10 in the night,” Dowding said.

She encouraged other students to start studying from 4th Form and to have a list of subjects they are sure they want to pursue.

“Always have God at the center because if you don’t have him there you can’t achieve anything, and make sure you work hard to make your parents proud,” she advised.

Meanwhile, Joshua Mc Arthur, a fourth form student from QC who wrote nine CSEC subjects.

The young man felt that he possessed the capability to excel at the exam while in 4th Form and took the risk which he said was “worth it”.

“My biggest challenge was completing the SBAs in the short amount of time because I decided in November. Also trying to learn the practical stuff in chemistry like with the labs, I couldn’t do that so I had to study them on paper,” Mc Arthur relayed.

He mentioned his driving force was being able to complete high school faster and being able to achieve his goal faster, which is to become an engineer.

Mc Arthur’s encouragement to students is to “study hard”. He said, “I had a lot of people doubting me and I guess I prevailed.”

---

• Arthur Roberts, CAPE, careers, CSEC, Jayden Adrian, Michael Henry, results, students

---