— Minister Parag says country surpasses regional benchmark

TWENTY pupils from schools across Guyana have tied for the top position in the 2026 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), as the country recorded its strongest performance in the history of the examination.

The students each attained the highest possible score of 484.52 marks across the four core subjects—Mathematics, English, Social Studies and Science—and have all earned places at Queen’s College.

Announcing the results on Friday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Minister of Education Sonia Parag said the 2026 cohort delivered the best overall performance ever recorded in Guyana.

“These are the best and strongest National Grade Six Assessment results… not only over the past five years, but the best results that have ever been recorded in Guyana,” the minister said.

She revealed that after receiving the results from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), the Ministry of Education requested a comparison with the performance of students in other Caribbean territories that administer similar assessments.

The comparison showed that Guyana exceeded the regional benchmark.

“I am proud to say that Guyana’s results have exceeded the regional benchmark,” Parag said.

She attributed the historic achievement to sustained investments in education, noting that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has consistently prioritised the sector and has intensified those efforts since 2020 under President Dr. Irfaan Ali through expanded access to quality education, improved teaching and learning, and targeted interventions.

Twenty share top honours

The national top performers are:

• Devya Sukhai (Leonora Primary)
• Chaitram Haripershad (Success Elementary)
• Zaida Gonzalez (Suddie Primary)
• Zahriya Niamatali (Mae’s Under-12 Primary)
• Divya Persaud (New Guyana Primary)
• Tyrese Abrams (Regma Primary)
• Simran Sanichari (Belle West Primary)
• Raiden Rambissoon (Westfield Prep)
• Shivendra Brijbhukan (Success Elementary)
• Kayleigh Phillips (Westfield Prep)
• Nathalya Khan (Success Elementary)
• Kayla Persaud (Mae’s Under-12 Primary)
• Kacy Kamal (Tain Primary)
• Anjali Persaud (Mae’s Under-12 Primary)
• Asiera Mohamed (Graham’s Hall Primary)
• Iron Fredericks (Leonora Primary)
• Hayden Solomon (Professional Learning College)
• Gaurav Deonarine (Success Elementary)
• Giana De Silva (Better Hope Primary)
• Christina Doonauth (Lusignan Primary)

All 20 students will attend Queen’s College.

Earlier, CXC reported that candidates recorded improved performances across all four core subjects, with Guyana also outperforming the regional benchmark. CXC Director of Operations Dr. Nicole Manning said the results demonstrate that the country’s sustained education reforms are delivering measurable gains, adding that Guyana is “leading” regional efforts and is now “seeing the fruits of the labour” from its investments in education.