THE release of the 2025 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results brought with it a surge of national pride, as Guyana has recorded its best academic performance in history.
Yet, in a moment that revealed both vision and empathy, President Dr. Irfaan Ali reminded the nation that these results, while important, must not define the worth or future of any child.
This is a pivotal message, especially in a society where academic success is often treated as the singular measure of a child’s potential. The President’s call for compassion, to parents, educators, and the public, is both timely and essential. “This is not an exam to determine who is better than who,” he said, affirming that the NGSA is not a verdict on a child’s future, but merely a step in a lifelong journey.
For those students and families who may feel disappointment, the President’s reassurance was clear: There is room for every child in Guyana’s future.

Whether inclined towards academics or more technical and vocational pathways, each student has a stake in the country’s growth and development. The emphasis on equal opportunity, regardless of exam placement, reflects a government committed to education as a right, not a privilege.

The data is indeed impressive. From 2015 to 2025, Guyana has seen a significant leap in pass rates: Mathematics rose from 37.9 per cent to 55.51 per cent, English from 45.88 per cent to 69.25 per cent, Social Studies from 46.5 per cent to 64.77 per cent, and Science from 44.12 per cent to 63.7 per cent. These results are not coincidental, they are the outcome of deliberate, targetted investments in the education sector, spearheaded by a government that made quality learning a national priority.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand’s remarks at the results ceremony highlighted this transformation.
She outlined the government’s comprehensive response to the learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, consolidated curricula, a national breakfast programme to support student attendance and wellness, teacher training, and expanded access to digital and broadcast learning platforms.

These are not small undertakings; they are strategic interventions that have fundamentally altered the education landscape. From the introduction of the Grade Five diagnostic assessments to the creation of learning quizzes and expansion of hinterland broadcasting coverage, the Ministry’s efforts have been both inclusive and forward-thinking.
What stands out even more is the reduction in the number of students placed into “primary tops”—an indicator of inadequate access to proper secondary education—from over 1,200 in 2020 to just 267 this year. With the government’s aggressive school construction campaign, that number is projected to drop to zero by 2026. This is not just an investment in buildings; it is an investment in the dignity and potential of every child, regardless of geography.

Yet, as we celebrate these milestones, President Ali’s words urge us to keep sight of the broader human story. Academic scores are important, but they are not everything. Children need nurturing, patience, and the confidence that failure does not define them. Success comes in many forms, and education—real education—should equip them to find their own path.

This year’s NGSA results demonstrate what’s possible when leadership, policy, and compassion align. But the President’s message reminds us of the moral responsibility that lies beneath the numbers: To raise a generation of confident, resilient, and supported young people, prepared not just for school, but for life.

Let us celebrate progress, but let us do so with grace. Let us honour the achievers, without forgetting the strivers. And let us continue to build an education system that leaves no child behind.