Graduating students of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) Secondary School were on Sunday urged by President David Granger to continue working hard as they are now at the beginning of “a lifelong process of learning”. Granger was at the time addressing the class of 2015 at the school’s 11th Graduation Ceremony. “You, the members of the class of 2015, have not come to an end. You are, indeed, at the beginning of yet another stage of a lifelong process of learning,” said President Granger, according to a Ministry of the Presidency release. Victoria Najab, secured 21 grade one passes, while Vamanadev Hiralal gained 19 grade ones and a grade two at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate. The privately-run institution, located in Region Three, has continuously had outstanding performances over the years at the CSEC.
Granger spoke of the rapid changes that are taking place around the world and the need for students to be on par with a technologically driven world. He underscored the need for more students to gravitate to the fields of Science, Technology and Mathematics in order to meet the needs of our developing country.
Speaking on the quality of laboratories at Queens College, when he was a student there, President Granger said, “A Colonial government was able to create an educated, scientific elite by putting in front of students the resources [they need]. This is something we have to do at the University of Guyana and in all secondary schools around the country, if we are to become a really developed nation.”

President Granger also presented the President’s Award to the best graduating CSEC student, Najab, and declared that in addition to the award, he would be presenting her with $100,000.00 to assist with her Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE) studies.
Najab, who wants to become a petroleum engineer, spoke of how honoured she and fellow students are to have kept the school at the top of the academic pedestal. “Today we are not only celebrating our own success, but we are making a great achievement for our country. We are children of this nation and our efforts are Guyana’s fortune and our accomplishments are Guyana’s triumph,” she said.
Najab said undoubtedly, the teachers were “the most valuable players”, as they went beyond the call of duty to make the school phenomenal.
“The SBA’s we cried to complete, they had to go over it 50 times. If our teachers did not guide our intellect, we would not be as happy as we are today” she said. Najab’s parting advice to the graduating class and students of SVN were, “Honour you teachers, honour your parents, before you can honour your God.”
With 64 CSEC and seven CAPE students graduating, Principal of SVN, Swami Askarananda while proud called on his students to not be complacent, as room exists for improvement. He congratulated the graduating class for their outstanding performances.
Pointing to the national overall pass rate for English and mathematics, which is now just about 50 percent, the Principal reported with pride that the students at SVN have continuously been raising the bar. “While at the national level and in the region, the past rate at English and math are around 50 percent, at SVN, in these two subjects, we have consistently produced the highest pass rate, with English at 86 percent and Math 92 percent,” he said.
Out of the 12,600 students in Guyana, who wrote the 2015 CSEC examination, 47 students passed with 11 grade ones or more, and of that number, 23 percent were SVN students.
Another notable point raised by the Principal was the hard work of the teachers, who worked with students, some of whom entered the school with average marks at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). Fourteen students with marks in the low 400s at the NGSA graduated with 12 subjects or more at CSEC at the institution. This, the Principal said, is a clear indication of the exceptional work done on the part of both teachers and students. In the coming year, Swami Ji said his institution will be striving to surpass Queens College, the only school that is ahead in terms of pass rate, in the country.

‘Continue the hard work’ Granger admonishes SVN graduates