-urged to keep climbing the ‘ladder of success’

THE Region Two Regional Democratic Council (RDC), in collaboration with the Department of Education, on Thursday, recognised those who excelled at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

For CSEC, the region’s top performers who were honoured are Anuradha Basdeo and Devanjali Ramkellwan of Abram Zuil Secondary, and Anna Regina Secondary students, Kelly Sankar, Thyecia Moore, Parmesh Ramgobin, Yovendra Singh, Angelita Chattergoon, Alliyah Doodnauth, Vishnu Surendra, Yogendra Rampersaud and Ambika Singh.

Basdeo secured 17 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos; Sankar, 16 Grade Ones and four Grade Twos; Moore and Ramgobin, 15 Grade Ones and five Grade Twos each; Yovendra, 15 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos; Chattergoon, 15 Grade Ones and four Grade Twos; Doodnauth, 14 Grade Ones and five Grade Twos; Surendra, 14 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos; Ramkellewan, 13 Grade Ones; Rampersaud, 13 Grade Ones and three Grade Twos and Ambika, 12 Grade Ones.

Meanwhile, the top NGSA performers who were honoured are Shreya Ramnarine, Karisham Dhanoopdharie, Bavanie Gangoo and Esara Persaud of CV Nunes Primary; Bhavin Griffith and Nishana Dial of Huist Diren Primary; Aaisha Mohamed of Al Madinah Islamic; Jessica Innis of Fisher Primary; Luckesh Deonarine and Kaysheena Singh of Taymonth Manor Primary, and Jada Welcome of Aurora Primary. They were awarded places at Queen’s College, the Bishops’ High school and St. Stanislaus College.

During a simple award ceremony held in the auditorium of the Anna Regina Secondary School, trophies were presented to the top performers and several present and retired teachers.

Regional Education Officer, Nichols Matthew, noted that despite the pandemic, there were outstanding performances in both exams. She said that the award ceremony was done to honour those who performed exceptionally well at the NGSA and CSEC examinations, and also retired headteachers for their years of dedicated service to the noble profession.

“The Ministry of Education, truly believes that a good education plays a vital role in building a bright future for our children. Therefore, we are committed to providing the most comfortable atmosphere and working towards achieving our Strategic Development Goal – Goal Four, which speaks to education,” Matthews added.

Matthews told the gathering that the percentage pass for NGSA Mathematics was 37.4 per cent, a six per cent decline when compared with last year’s figure. For English, the region achieved a 58.95 per cent pass rate, which represents a 4.2 per cent improvement over last year’s performance.

This year, three pupils from the riverine and lake schools were able to secure places at national top schools.

Regarding the 2021 CSEC examinations, 40 per cent of the students secured Grades One to three in five or more subjects, including Mathematics and English.

Matthews called on the awardees to “keep on climbing the ladder of success and represent Region Two.”

Also making remarks was Region Two Vice-Chairman, Humace Oodit, who said that the learners performed exceedingly well this year despite the challenges posed by pandemic.

He said that the region will continue to make the necessary investments in the education sector so that children in the region can continue to excel. He also advised the awardees to aim for higher education.

Basdeo extended gratitude to the regional administration and the Department of Education for organising the ceremony. She also thanked her teachers and parents for their support throughout her academic life.