–in spite of its Grade ‘C’ status, COVID-19 challenges
OVERWINNING Primary, a Grade ‘C’ school located at Islington Village, East Bank Berbice, has been making tremendous strides over the years to be recognised as a top performing school at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations.
It’s an achievement that is not without its challenges, but Headmaster Mr. Madoda Alfred and Class teacher Ms. Carol Adams have been doing everything in their power to make the learning institution continue to live up to its motto, ‘Nothing but the best is good enough’.
According to Mr. Alfred, of the 25 pupils who signed up to write the NGSA last year, the school was able to secure an 88 per cent pass rate, which saw its charges being placed at top schools in the Demerara and Berbice districts. For instance, top performer Aklema Khan was awarded a place at President’s College, but has since opted to attend the New Amsterdam Multilateral School instead.
Class Teacher Ms. Adams credits God for giving her the inspiration to incorporate multiple strategies and explore different approaches to effectively capture the attention and interest of both the pupils and their parents.
“Owing to the existing realities brought on by the global pandemic,” she said, “my set plans and purposes were challenged in more ways than one, but I enjoyed a consistent, generous supply of encouragement from my headmaster and staff members, and also my family, who played a broadly supportive role in keeping me to the task.”
Asked what she thought of her performance at the exam, 12-year-old Aklema said that while the COVID-19 pandemic did curtail face-to-face learning within the classroom for her, she did most of her studies at the home of a classmate.
Aklema revealed that the reason she strove for excellence was because all of her cousins have excelled academically. “I did not want to be left behind,” she said. “So, after completing my daily chores, I would go off to lessons, returning hours later to complete home-based assignment. I credit my mother, Lalita Khan, my grandparents and all those who have contributed to my success.”
Cristal Shultz, another high-flyer who would like to pursue a career in education, secured a place at her dream school, Berbice High School.
“I was overjoyed when I got my results,” she said, adding: “My family shed tears of joy; they have very high expectations for me, and I have to remain focussed, so I can make them and myself proud.”
Other top performers at the Overwinning Primary School who secured places at the New Amsterdam Multilateral School are: Nivar Ramharak, Analiza Gorsira , Sara Jaipaul, and Shane Fredricks. Among those who got Berbice High are: Daycia Roethoff, Naiomi Hennis, and Martina Henry.
