Mackenzie High remains among top 10 schools nationally
MACKENZIE High School (MHS) maintained its position among the top five secondary schools in Guyana with the overall percentage of passes for students, gaining grades one to three at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examinations, which moved from 92 to 95 percent. The Headteacher, Mrs. Cheryl McDonald declared: ”We were really aiming for 100 percent passes, as we hoped all the children would have passed all their subjects with grades one to three but we are getting there.”
About the school’s best achievers, she said: “We are happy to say that the two top students, Zainab Abdul-Karim, with 13 grade ones and one grade two with 12 distinctions and Rooanna Rose, who gained 11 grade ones and two grade twos are from the Science stream and that they worked hard.”
However, McDonald said:”The sad thing is that we cannot accommodate them at the Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE) level because of staff. But we know that, wherever they go, they will do well.”
She said that in the history of Linden, it is the first time a student has been included in the top 10 nationally, like Abdul-Karim.
McDonald continued: “And I am happy that the second student, Rooanna Rose, was number 21 and the third student, Kenesha McTurk, was in the top 100. So I think it’s an encouragement for the students and also for the parents. They need not fear, if their children cannot go to a school out of Linden, they can remain at MHS and still perform.”
Remarking on the general performance, where the school remained unchallenged in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice), McDonald, obviously elated, said: “I am very proud about the Agricultural Science Department (as) in the history of the school, it is the first time that we had 38 grade ones and two grade twos out of 40 students.”
McDonald said it was excellent showing by the teacher, Ms. Glennis Fordyce, who is young, sent candidates for the first time to the examination.”
The Headmistress also reported that several more grade one students got distinctions and Physical Education continues to do well. Of a total of 49 candidates, who entered for the exams, 48 received grade ones.
Human and Social Biology, Integrated Science, Principles of Business saw successes, as well, she said.
McDonald said this is the second year MHS sent candidates for Information Technology (IT) and they achieved 100 percent, with eight grade ones and the Business Department, in particular, did well, with all the students, except one who got a grade four, were able to get grades one, two and three.
The results included Office Administration, 30 grade ones and 25 grade twos; Accounts 100 percent; Principles of Business 16 grade ones; Language Department 53 grade ones.
Referring to the 14 grade ones in Food and Nutrition and Home Economics Management, she said the passes were 96.9 percent.
McDonald praised English ‘B’ teacher Sarah Nunes, whose students were able to get 14 grade ones.
She admitted being “a bit disappointed” with Mathematics, in which 66.9 percent was achieved this year, as against 74 percent last year.
Another first was the achievement of the students of teacher Quincy Cummings, who recorded two grade ones, eight grade twos and one grade three in building construction.
McDonald, summing up, said: “I would really like to thank the teachers, they are hard workers. They worked beyond the call of duty. Many times they were working after the regular school time at no cost. Some of them worked during the holidays and over the weekend and I really would like to thank them, because the children alone would not have been able to get these results. I am thankful to them for their support and that of the  parents.”