By Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur

RENACE JOSEPH, 12, a pupil of All Saints Primary School in the town of New Amsterdam is the top student for East Berbice, Corentyne at the recently-concluded National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

With 517 marks, Joseph copped a spot at the prestigious Queen’s College in the capital City and among the top one per cent of candidates who sat the examinations.

Elated by her outstanding performance, Joseph told the Guyana Chronicle that she loves medicine and was looking forward to pursuing a career in that field.

Renita Fraser, 34, the proud mother of Joseph, said she could not contain her excitement when a teacher called and related that the good news was announced on television.

“I paused for a bit and then was in the process of getting her candidate number when another teacher called… when I see it on the website I couldn’t help it. I started to jump up with excitement and running and squealing while my daughter was just calm. I am so overjoyed and proud of her,” the young mother related.

Fraser worked closely with her daughter, doing revision on Monday to Friday and leaving the weekend for Joseph to relax and play. This, she noted was very helpful as it provided a meaningful balance between work and play.

Joseph credits her success to her parents and teachers.

Coming in at the number two spot for Region Six was Safiya Tribhowan of Tain Primary School, Corentyne, Berbice, who also gained a place at Queen’s College with 514 marks.

Tribhowan had ‘set her sight’ on The Bishops’ High and studied late into the nights and early mornings to achieve her dream and could not have been be happier when she learnt that she obtained a place at Queen’s College.

Tribhowan, a daughter of a University of Guyana Berbice Campus librarian and an E-networks Berbice branch technician also wants to become a doctor. Her message to her peers is work hard and the results would be rewarding.

The young lady noted that while initially she was frustrated that the examinations were pushed back because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it allowed her more time to study and prepare for the examinations. She gave thanks to God, her teachers and parents for her success.

Kairon Roopnarine of Cumberland Primary earned the number three spot in Region Six with 513 marks and will join Joseph and Tribhowan at Queen’s College.

NERVE WRECKING

The young man, who was aiming for a spot at St Rose’s High School, told the Guyana Chronicle that it was “nerve wrecking” waiting to hear the results for Region Six but when he heard his name called and he got a place at QC, the nervousness turned into excitement.

Roopnarine, who is the son of an Albion Estate foreman and a customer service representative, wants to become an engineer. He believes hard work and dedication are important to achieve success.

The other top performers in the region who would be going to Queen’s College are Suhana Bacchus and Dillion Pawaroo of Corriverton Primary, who both scored 512.

Usha Indarsingh of Gangaram Primary; Gabriella Sukhu of Corriverton Primary; and Varshanie Mulla of All Saints Primary, who all scored 511 marks at the NGSA, would be heading to The Bishops’ High.

Abdur Ally of Berbice Islamic School and David Subnauth of New Market Primary, who each scored 509 marks were also awarded places at The Bishops’ High.

Ally, a 10-year-old from Chesney wants to expand his family furniture business. The shy young man told this publication that he is intrigued by the way pieces of furniture come to life from one piece of board. He is interested in creating masterpieces of his own.

He received a lot of support from his mother, who was a former teacher at the Islamic School in Georgetown before moving to Berbice several years ago. Following the advent of the pandemic, he was home-schooled.

His proud mother said she was very excited and happy that he was allowed to sit the examinations at his age and gave praise to God, his teachers and the Berbice Islamic School for his success.