THE Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) yesterday awarded prizes to the top 10 winners of the Guyana Chronicle Mastermind Quiz Online game.

Among those present at the event, held at the Company’s Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park office were General Manager, Mr. Nandkumar Puran; Webmaster (website is guyanachronicleonline), Mr. Girendra Persaud; and other persons involved in implementing the GNNL’s Mastermind Quiz, including Ms Kimberly Haley, Mr. Akash Persaud, and Mr. Kevin Sukhdeo. Mr. Puran congratulated the young winners on their accomplishment, and acknowledged the persons and entities who donated the various prizes, such as GNNL Chairman Mr. Keith Burrowes, Mr. Kevin Sukhdeo, The Guyana Chronicle Newspapers, Starr Computers, NT Computeac, Citizen’s Bank, Republic Bank and GBTI.
He said the Online quiz game has seen tremendous growth since its inception in May 2011 with a group of very dedicated players, and noted that there would have been a lot more participants had many more children had access to computers and Internet facilities. Mr. Puran is nevertheless happy with the level of participation the quiz has been getting thus far.
He encouraged children to share their computers with friends, so as to entertain a better challenge for themselves in the quiz, whilst causing another child to benefit from this educational quiz game.
He disclosed that the Mastermind Quiz game is currently being reviewed, after which prizes would be given only to those winners under 12 years old. Nevertheless, he encouraged players over that age to see the quiz as a personal challenge for self development and to participate accordingly. He also encouraged more promotion of this educational game in schools.
For the past few months, there has been no presentation of prizes because of internal issues. However, at yesterday’s ceremony, the general manager announced that prizes being distributed were equal in value to those of the total period when prizes were not distributed, because much thought had been given to the situation, and the prizes were very well chosen and were quite exquisite and educational in many ways.
Coordinator of the event, Mr. Kevin Sukhdeo, said the top three schools winning prizes were:
1) Green Acres Primary School with 23 top-three finishes;
2) Cropper Primary School with 11 top-three finishes; and
3) St Gabriel’s Primary School with 10 top-three finishes.
He also said that persons would be allowed to play the game until they meet the age of 13, as they can still participate, not just to educate themselves, but also to leave a very high score and a good impression on the quiz scoreboard.
Sukhdeo said parents should hold themselves responsible for pushing their children to participate in this game, and watch them go to another level of intelligence.
This quiz is designed to let children see the best of their capabilities, and its reviewing will seek to look at new ways to engage children.
Sukhdeo said most parents think that because exams are looming ahead, children should be less engaged in computer activities and the Internet. However, the Mastermind Quiz Game isn’t just one of the regular computer games, because it seeks to assist children in preparing for their exams, as it contains strictly educational content and the entire concept of the game is to allow children to play and learn.
Sukhdeo said that if one should research this website, one would see that it contains questions from past examination papers to assist the grade six and younger students.
Webmaster Mr. Girendra Persaud highlighted that the game was created with the intention of developing and improving the creativity of children, and assist generally in their education. He emphasized the importance of parents participating in this game, not to answer the questions, but to walk their children through the game as a critical component of their self development.
He said he would also push to see more students become involved in playing this game, as it would help to improve their academic standards in schools.
Persaud said that when children are motivated by activities such as the Mastermind Quiz, teachers also feel proud to see their students excel at examinations and projects.
He said this quiz was designed to accommodate thousands of players, and when students participate and excel at their exams and in their endeavours, everyone sees the fruit of their investments.
Yesterday’s prizes included a Tablet, printers, and other electronic gadgets.
The top 10 winners were:
1) Sarah Garrido of Green Acres Primary School, with 16,763 points.
2) Jalena Arjune of Green Acres Primary School, with 14, 575 points.
3) Hemanta Doodnauth of Cropper Primary School, with 13,396 points
4) Denisha Leitch of Port Mourant Primary School, with 12,364 points
5) Rebekah Mohanram of Montrose Primary School, with 10,661 points
6) Rahul Lildar of Novar Primary School, with 7,083 points
7) Jasmine Lall of Vryheid’s Lust Primary School, with 6,834 points
8) Sandiana Pretiram of Montrose Primary School, with 4,887 points
9) Teshan Evans of Montrose Primary School, with 3,607 points
10) Mukhtaar Alli of Grove Primary School, with 605 points.