Perfect Score! 20 students top NGSA 2026 in historic first

Jul 11, 2026 News

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By Allyiah Allicock

(Kaieteur News) – For the first time in the country’s history, 20 pupils have tied for the top spot at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), each achieving a perfect standardised score of 484.52.

Minister of Education Sonia Parag announced the 2026 NGSA results on Friday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Turkeyen, calling the outcome the strongest in the exam’s history.

“From our public and private education systems, representing communities near and far, it gives me immense pleasure and pride to announce that, for the first time in the history of the NGSA, every one of these 20 students has attained a perfect score in every subject of the NGSA examination… and thus they will forever share the title of top student of Guyana for the National Grade Six Assessment,” Parag said.

A total of 15,706 pupils sat the exams, which were written on April 29 and 30. Parag said this year’s results are not only the strongest in five years, but the best ever recorded nationally and that Guyana’s performance exceeded the regional benchmark when compared against similar Caribbean assessments.

She cautioned, however, that the scores are standardised rather than raw marks, and should not be compared across years, since each cohort’s results are calculated relative to that year’s candidates. The highest standardised scores by subject this year were: Mathematics: 122.917, Social Studies: 121.653, English: 120.031, Science: 119.919.

Minister Parag attributed the results to years of deliberate government investment rather than chance, pointing to school construction, teacher training, textbook procurement, and literacy and numeracy intervention programmes carried out under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration.

“They are the outcome of deliberate planning, sustained investment, and the collective efforts of our teachers, our parents, our education officers, our school leaders, our students, and the government of Guyana,” she said.

The minister also confirmed that the 2027 NGSA will be written on April 14 and 15, with results expected on June 25, 2027.

Messages to the Students

Parag urged the top performers not to let the exam define them. “The NGSA is an important milestone, but it definitely does not define who you are, nor does it determine the limits of what you can achieve,” she said, encouraging them to “dream boldly” as they enter secondary school.

President Irfaan Ali echoed the sentiment in a congratulatory message, telling students that “NGSA is not the finish line; it is the starting line,” and reaffirming his government’s commitment to ensuring no child is denied opportunity because of circumstance.

Meet the top performers

This year’s 20 perfect scorers, all of whom have secured places at Queen’s College, are:

Region Two: Zaida Gonzalez (Suddie Primary), Giana De Silva (Better Hope Primary)

Region Three: Kayla Persaud (Windsor Forest Primary), Ieon Fredericks and Devya Sukhai (Leonora Primary), Simran Sameerah Sanichari (Belle West Primary), Hayden Solomon (Professional Learning College)

Region Four: Christina Doodnauth (Lusignan Primary), Shivendra Brijbhukan, Gaurav Deonarine, Chaitram Haripersaud and Nathalya Khan (Success Elementary)

Region Six: Kacy Hailie Kamal (Tain Primary)

Region Ten: Tyrese Abrams (Regma Primary)

Georgetown (District 11): Asiera Mohamed (Graham’s Hall Primary), Zahriya Niamatali and Anjali Persaud (Mae’s Under 12 Primary), Divya Persaud (New Guyana School), Kayleigh Phillips and Raiden Rambissoon (Westfield Prep)

In their own words

For many of the top scorers, the achievement capped months of early mornings, extra lessons and long study sessions.

Christina Doodnauth said the exam was “a little bit hard here and there, but overall, it was ok,” crediting lessons and composition classes for her preparation. “Always believe in yourself, try your hardest, and if you need anything come to your parents and teachers for help,” she advised future candidates.

Gaurav Deonarine said he felt “very excited and elated” on learning of his result, having worked through past papers consistently since Grade Five.

Outside the perfect-score group, Eudisha Williams of Port Kaituma Primary topped Region One with 475.24 marks, securing a place at Port Kaituma Secondary. She said hard work and past-paper practice carried her through.

Simran Sanichari described feeling “overjoyed” that her sacrifices had paid off. “I cried a bit but preparation was ok, I had to put in the hard work and make some sacrifices but it all paid off,” she said, urging other students to “keep on pushing” despite the sacrifices required.

Shristi Hardeo, Region Seven’s top performer from Two Miles Primary, said she “expected to go far but not this far.” Her mother said the journey had been an emotional one. “It’s been quite a journey for us, we have come a long way, we have had COVID to deal with and I’m both mommy and teacher and I had to keep with the continued encouragement,” she said.

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• exam, National Grade Six Assessment, NGSA 2026, Perfect score, top spot

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