By Indrawattie Natram

WAKENAAM Island’s Top National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) performer 11-year-old Ethan Nevid Singh is aspiring to become an engineer at Exxon Mobil. Singh, of Marias Pleasure Wakenaam, Region Three, copped 502 marks and gained a space at St Rose’s High School in the city of Georgetown. The young boy is the eldest son for his parents and credited his success to extra lessons, as well as God’s guidance.

He said he somehow expected to perform well at the examinations but it was never his intention to be the top performer although he is thankful. The lad explained that living on the Island of Wakenaam, there aren’t many opportunities for children- but he was thankful that he was exposed to extra lessons and internet access at his home.
Leading up to the examinations, the 11-year-old said he burned the midnight oil studying and with the support of both his parents, he managed to retain what he revised. He said the examinations for him were not as challenging as he expected and he entered the exam room with confidence.

He remembered riding to his school at Maria’s Pleasure, Wakenaam and would sometimes be early. He shared fond memories at the school and said that although the primary school is located in a remote area, the teachers’ dedication is quite remarkable.

“I wasn’t always the high flyer in my class. I mostly got first but still there were many bright children in my class and I predicted that they would have done well also,” Singh said.

He thanked his parents Marsh Singh and Cynthia Sue Singh for providing him with the necessary resources he needed. He also extended gratitude to his teacher Navita Seecharan, for the patience she gave him during his studies. At the moment, Singh is attending summer classes since he said that he prefers to be occupied, rather than be idle during the summer vacation.

REQUEST FOR INTERNET AT THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS
The young lad said that he would not be attending the school he attained at the examination, however, he would attend Wakenaam Island Secondary. His reason for not going to the school he was awarded is because of lack of accommodation.
He, however, has a request where he desires for all the primary schools on the Island to be equipped with internet.
“With the Internet, there are a lot of opportunities for young people. They can do research, they can keep abreast with the country’s current affairs,” Singh said.

MARIA’S PLEASURE SCHOOL’S PERFORMANCE

According to headmistress of the school Navita Seecharran, 17 children in that area sat the examinations with nine pupils awarded 50 per cent and over. Seecharran said the school continues to be understaffed and often times, two staff would be overlooking while others are attending college. The school’s curriculum continues to be based on the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Education. Mathematics in Grade One and Two is taught mainly by radio, through the Interactive Radio Programme (IRI) while literacy hour is done among the pupils and teacher in Grade One and Two. Last year, the top performer was Justin Headley who had scored 440 marks.

Wakenaam Island has four Primary schools; Zeelandia, Arthville, Maria’s Pleasure and San Souci Primary.