From Aranaputa to Bishops’

WHEN eleven-year-old Gustavo Abraham returned home to his community of Annai this week, he was greeted with cheers and celebratory hugs after becoming the top performer at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). Born and raised on the outskirts of Annai, Gustavo made history as the first student from Annai Primary School to achieve such an accomplishment. This week, Gustavo and his father, John, spoke to the Guyana Chronicle about their journey and what it means to make their community and region proud.

The eldest of three, Gustavo has always been a top performer passionate about his education. Born and raised in the community of Aranaputa, on the outskirts of Annai in Region Nine, Gustavo grew up like any other child from the hinterland—running, playing, and enjoying the laid-back, easy-going atmosphere of his community. His father, John Abraham, says that life and raising a family in Region Nine is comfortable, and although there are a few hurdles, accessing goods and services is relatively easy. Similarly, education in the community is accessible, with Annai Secondary being one of the oldest and most respected hinterland schools.

As a parent, John believes that while school is important and impactful, parents must go the extra mile in their child’s education. Both John and the teachers at Annai Primary saw Gustavo’s potential, so John committed himself to working alongside his son. Reflecting on Gustavo’s academic track record, John stated, “Gustavo always did well in school. He was basically in the top three of his class from Grade One, Grade Two, probably to Grade Three. From around Grade Four, he started actually topping his class,” he said.

Recognising his son’s passion and potential, John created a schedule and carved out time to study with Gustavo. “We would do some studying in the morning before he went to school. He would have some extra lessons after school with his teachers, and then during the evening, we would do some more work. That’s about it,” he shared. Although they studied daily, John made sure Gustavo wasn’t overburdened, ensuring he had time to rest, play, and enjoy his childhood.

That’s why when the family learned that Gustavo had secured the top spot for the region, they were overjoyed. Recalling the moment, John said it brought profound relief and pride, knowing all the long nights had paid off. “It was a surprise when I heard that he—Gustavo—had actually topped the region. Because of all the hard work we put in. And of course, I was overjoyed. The amount of effort we put in—it paid off,” he shared.

According to John, the hardest part of the journey was adjusting to the routine—one he now hopes Gustavo will carry into his secondary school years at The Bishops’ High School. “The hardest part to me was basically we had to get ourselves into a routine. We had to balance his studies with whatever else he had to do—his chores and so on.” He further added, “It called for commitment not only on the part of the parents and the child but the school as well.”

John says there is no single key to academic success, but parental support can be a deciding factor. He believes parents should take a more active role in their children’s education, serving as supplementary educators. “A lot of the parents prefer to put that responsibility on the school. But as a parent, I realised that I would have to play my part as well. I sort of supplemented the school. Whatever the school did not touch on, I was able to supplement—I was able to plug the gaps that he probably would have missed at school,” he explained.

Gustavo, whose favourite subject is Mathematics, initially struggled with English. Seeing where his son’s challenges lay, John used a variety of resources to help him improve. Materials like the Ministry of Education’s concise notes made a significant difference. “We made use of the concise notes. I guess we used that extensively—I would have widely used the concise notes. I realised that most or all of the materials needed for the exam would have been in the concise notes,” he said.

Although NGSA is just one milestone in what Gustavo and his family hope is a long, productive academic journey, the impact of his success has been far-reaching. His family, school, and community rallied around him last week, celebrating his achievement with a small parade. According to John, it was an emotional moment for all. “It was the first time that a student from this particular school would have topped the region. So it was one of joy for the community; the community is now on the educational map. They did like a little motorcade kind of thing for him—the community, the school, and so on.”

But Gustavo’s story also highlights a larger issue—the standard of education, not just in Region Nine but across Guyana. As someone born and raised in the hinterland and now a father, John says the improvements in education are both vast and impactful. With continued government support in the form of resources, he believes this is just the beginning. “I’m seeing the standard of education, it’s going up in the hinterland, in Region Nine particularly. So good things are happening,” he said.

Currently, Gustavo has a deep interest in computers, gaming, and technology—fields he may pursue in the future. Speaking to Pepperpot Magazine from his home in Aranaputa, the outspoken and confident young man said he couldn’t have achieved this without his parents. “If it was not for my mother and father, I would not be where I am right now. They would always support me.” He added, “I was always confident in myself that I would get a good school in Georgetown, and that is what actually happened. I would wake up early in the morning to study, and in the evenings too.”

Though he enjoys gaming, Gustavo says he hopes to one day follow in his father’s footsteps. “I would like to become a GECOM officer just like my dad when I grow up,” he said.

Now preparing to join the newest batch of students at The Bishops’ High School, Gustavo’s family is ready to support him through the next chapter. And while Gustavo is excited to start at a new school and learn a new curriculum, he’s also eager to make his mark.