ANTHONY Ferreira of Mae’s Under 12 and Aryan Singh of Dharmic Rama Krishna School both scored 568 out of a possible highest score of 583 marks, making them the joint top students of this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations.

However, students of private schools outperformed their public school counterparts to claim spots in the top 10 performers at the NGSA exams.

Sarena Razak of Graham’s Hall Primary and Jonathan Ganga of Leonora Primary were the other students from the public school system who claimed spots among the top 10 performers at this year’s NGSA.

Of the 14,386 candidates who sat the NGSA exams, most were from learning institutions within the boundaries of Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica).

ANTHONY FERREIRA
An overjoyed Anthony Ferreira, 11, said he was expecting good results, but not that good as to make him the Top Student. “I am beyond happy right now, because I was expecting good grades, but not as well as this. It was a challenge giving up most of my recreational activities and focusing more on my studies, but in the end it was worth it, since I topped the country.

“During my school life, I always did good and tried my best in everything I did. So I would like to thank my parents and teachers for bringing me this far, and hope for the same as I strive to become a technological engineer,” he said.

ARYAN SINGH
Twelve-year-old Aryan Singh of the Dharmic Rama Krishna School said: “The studies were neither hard not easy. I stuck to the basics and did the homework and other regular day-to-day stuff. I would like to thank God, my parents and teachers for what I have achieved. And moving forward, I want to be the CEO of the World Bank.”

His mother, single-parent Prithi Singh, was overjoyed at the news, and described her son as a well-rounded child who excels both in academics and sports.

Sarena Razak
Eleven-year-old Sarena Razak of Graham’s Hall Primary, who attained the third spot, expressed much elation and happiness as she shared her journey with the Guyana Chronicle.

“My methods of studying were simple and not too hard. It was thanks to the support of God, my parents and teachers that I got what I got, and I am proud of myself. I always achieved high grades throughout my school life, and I hope to continue this as I move forward.

“As of now, I am still unsure what I want to become, but as time goes by, I’m sure I’ll decide,” she said.

CHELSEA BARNES

Chelsea Barnes, a student of the Success Elementary School, did not expect to be among the top performers at the NGSA exams because she thought the exams were difficult. This aspiring general surgeon noted that she expected to gain a position at The Bishops’ High or St. Stanislaus College.

Cutting back on leisure, such as playing with her dolls and watching lots of television, has paid off after all, she surmised.

Chelsea’s father, Oliver Barnes, noted that he expected good results from Chelsea, but not this good! He noted that his daughter had been distraught after the Mathematics examinations, but he had encouraged her to have faith and continue striving for the best.

Chelsea has extended gratitude to her family members and teachers.

Arun Sooknarine
This young prospective engineer was a student of the Dharmic Rama Krishna Primary School when he wrote the NGSA exams. He placed fifth among the top 10 performers, having undergone a rigorous programme in preparation for the exams, including Saturday lessons; and was understandably excited when the results were announced.

The results were beyond his expectations, he said, as “the exams were hard”.

The class teacher of both Arun and Aryan, Ms. Padmini Jewan, said she had full confidence in both boys, as they were “good thinkers.” She noted that they had both showed high levels of dedication.

HELIA AGARD
Success Elementary student Helia Agard, 11, was amazed by her performance, and expressed much joy as she spoke with this publication.

“In preparing for exams, I found it challenging since I loved to play around and have fun. So I had to give up most of (my) recreational stuff, but, nevertheless, I would love to thank my parents, teachers, grandparents, and most of all God, for making me get what I got.

“And even though I was expecting to do well, I was not expecting to get sixth, but I am really happy I got it. I would like to be a lawyer and parliamentarian, so I look forward to doing the work and enjoying the secondary school life. After Queen’s College, I would like to attend the Bishop’s High School Sixth Form and then

move on to Harvard University.”

DIVYA NANDALALL
This Mae’s Under 12 School student placed seventh and was surprised by her performance. She said her success came through a lot of hard work, as she studied diligently and attended lessons for composition writing and the sciences.

She is grateful to the Lord and her family, especially her mother and her teachers, who had a great deal of confidence in her and were very supportive along the way. She said she is happy and overjoyed at this success.

Her mother, Natasha Nandalall, said she was very excited and proud of her daughter. “Divya gave up everything besides studying,” the mother stated. Divya is definitely looking forward to attending Queen’s College.

Justin Seecharan

This 11-year-old Success Elementary School student tried to hide his elation when the Guyana Chronicle spoke with him. He was among those who placed seventh.

“I have to thank Jesus Christ for helping me through the exams, for pulling me through all the subjects, and helping me with what I achieved. Also, I would like to thank Ms Africo Selman and my parents for encouraging me and giving me the will to go on.

“I studied hard with a time period of three hours a night every night in the lead-up to the exams. Moving forward, I would love to become a physicist in my later days, given that I love science.”

LEMUEL ASSING
This 11-year-old New Guyana School student placed seventh also. He said: “I feel very great, and I would like to thank the Lord that I am Number 7 in the country.

“Everyone expected me to do great in the school, given that the preparation for the exam was filled with hard work. I had to put down everything and focus on academics. In school, we used study guides to push in the extra work every day as the exam neared.

“Currently, I am unsure what I want to become in the future, but eventually I will decide.”

JONATHAN GANGA

From Leonora Primary, this 11-year-old was thrilled that he had won a place at Queen’s College. This was his dream, and placing 7th in the country with 560 marks did the trick. In preparing for the exams, he gave TV watching and playing videos games a break, even if it was just about a week or so before the exams, he laughed.

His father helped him with preparing for Mathematics and English, while his mother helped him with Social Studies. Science is his favourite subject, so he didn’t need help with that! Apart from his parents and grandparents, he credits his teachers, especially teacher Narpatty, for his good results. He says they were always patient in helping him to understand subject areas he found difficult.

Jonathan enjoys drawing and painting, mostly of the natural world; he hasn’t found a liking to painting humans just yet. Jonathan hasn’t yet decided on a career path.

INDIE RAMPERSAUD
Indie Rampersaud of the Success Elementary School was elated by her achievement, having placed seventh. She attended classes from 6:30 am to 4:30 pm. These rigid class hours, coupled with her studying in the nights, prepared her for these examinations.

“It was hard in the beginning to the end,” she said, and at one point she felt like giving up, because the pressure to do well was frustrating. But she is happy that she persevered.

She is an aspiring lawyer, and is definitely looking forward to attending Queen’s College. She is very appreciative of her parents’ support and that of her class teacher, Ms. Africo Selman, who noted the intense preparations made by the students.

Saalih Rahim

Saalih Rahim, who placed 12th and wishes to be an Islamic Scholar, said he had to “put off the play” and “keep revising and working past papers.”

Rahim said he will most likely continue studying at the ISA Islamic School, instead of going to Queen’s College, as he wishes to excel in the areas of Islamic studies and the academic subjects.

He gave thanks to Allah and his parents, especially his mother, who helped him with his studies; and he gave thanks to his teachers. His mother, Taaherah Ally, noted that she is proud of her son, but she was not surprised at his performance because she knows how smart he is.

“Any success of any child would depend a lot on the home support,” she noted.

She said she always encouraged him to be diligent, not to procrastinate, and she rewarded him by allowing him to play his beloved cricket.

Mohamed Hasan
Mohamed Hasan, an Al Ghazali Islamic student who placed in the 12th position, noted that he migrated to Guyana recently and found it difficult to transition. However, through the support of Allah, to whom he prayed every night, his parents and his teacher Mr. Jhonny Mangal, he was able to achieve success.

Hasan said he wishes to be a medical doctor, as he is a profound lover of the sciences; and he is looking forward to his years at Queen’s College. His teacher, Mr. Mangal, is ccredited with producing a successful batch of students this year from the school, as three of the 20 students were able to attain Queen’s College. The teacher said that while Hasan did not have a sound “foundation”, as he only became integrated into the school at the beginning of Grade 5, he had showed a great deal of potential and was very dedicated. Mr. Mangal also said he was able to obtain a specimen paper similar to one that was given to the students this year at the NGSA, and as such, he was able to tailor mock exams in a similar manner, which allowed the students to be prepared.

ALETHA JOSEPH

Aletha Joseph of Montrose Primary School placed 15th. She noted that she was well groomed to be a top student, as her teachers gave her the “extra push”, and everyone around her was very supportive. She said she studied hard and attended extra lessons at her class teacher’s home.

Her teachers said that Joseph is shy by nature, but is a very hard worker and a student who perseveres. Teacher Zoe Luke said she expected nothing less from her student.

JORDON NELSON
12-year-old Jordon Nelson of the New Guyana School expressed happiness at achieving a place at the premier secondary school in the country.

Stating, “I am very happy for achieving this position, and I would like to thank my parents and God for guiding me to where I am today”, she disclosed that moving on to Queen’s College will be great, and “I look forward to making much use of the opportunities that come my way.”

Luke Mangal

He placed 23 with 555 marks, but he is actually from Leonora Primary School, and not the Academy of Excellence, as was announced by the Ministry of Education.

Luke Mangal said he prayed and fasted during the period he used for studying before the exams. His favourite subject is Mathematics, but he found some of the exam questions “tricky.”
Mangal is not a TV person; he prefers to read of play a good game of cricket. His favourite books are the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by fiction writer Rick Riordan.