Students of Golden Grove Secondary School on the East Coast Demerara have a lot to thank their teachers for, as the school recorded an overall 20 percent increase in the pass rate at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) examinations in comparison to last year.

It was one of the school’s best performances in recent times; of the students who wrote the examination, 29 of them gained passes in five subjects or more. The school gained 10 distinctions in Social Studies, Agriculture Science, Social Biology and Food & Nutrition and Mathematics.

Rayanna Whyte and Shavana Morrison

Senior teacher in the English Department, Miss Angela Montfort, told the Chronicle that the school’s success rate is attributed to hard work and dedication of both the teachers and the students. Further, she stated that the top student for the school at this year’s examination is Ms Rayanna Whyte from Ann’s Grove, who secured passes in 8 subjects, with distinctions in Mathematics, Agriculture Science, and Human & Social Biology; grade ones in Social Studies and Integrated Science, and grade twos in English A and Office Administration. An elated Ms Whyte told the Chronicle that her commitment to studies along with relentless support from her parents contributed to her achievement. She also recognised that God played a big role in her success.

Other outstanding performers included Shavana Morrison of Victoria, who gained two distinctions, one grade one, three grade twos and one grade three; Bibi Salema Hassan of Strathspey who gained one distinction, one grade one, three grade twos and three grade threes; Tamika Hanover of Ann’s Grove who gained one distinction, six grade twos and one grade three; Sherona Gulliver, also of Ann’s Grove, who gained four grade twos and four grade threes; and Leelawattie Atwaroo of Enmore who gained three grade twos and five grade threes.

Headmaster Raymond Reid, who will be retiring soon, must be a happy man as he leaves the school in a few weeks’ time.