SENIOR Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, has urged graduates of J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School to pursue excellence in whatever career path they choose, while lauding Region Six for producing Guyana’s top-performing student in the 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
Addressing the school’s annual graduation ceremony on Wednesday, Singh congratulated the graduating students, their parents, teachers, the Board of Governors and the Regional Education Department for the institution’s strong CSEC performance and its continued record of academic achievement.
He noted that J.C. Chandisingh had surpassed the national average in pass rates and had expanded its curriculum to include subjects such as Theatre Arts and Religious Education.
The minister also highlighted the school’s contribution to national development, noting that the institution has been producing students of distinction for nearly a century.
Turning to the graduates, Singh said their achievements represented both institutional and personal success.
“I want to congratulate the students who are the embodiment, who are the personal manifestation of this remarkable and successful journey, because these successes, while they are national and regional and institutional, they are also individual and deeply and profoundly personal. They are your successes,” he said.
He encouraged the students to remain committed to excellence regardless of the careers they ultimately pursue.
“If you want to be a farmer, be a farmer. If you want to be a doctor, be a doctor. If you want to be an engineer, you want to be a data scientist, be a data scientist. If you want to be a nurse, be a nurse but whatever you choose to do, I implore you and I appeal to you, do it well. Do it excellently. And the rest will take care of itself,” Singh told the graduates.
The minister stressed that their graduation marked another stage in their development rather than the end of their journey.
Singh also used the occasion to outline the government’s continuing efforts to broaden access to high-quality education across the country, saying excellence should not be confined to a small number of traditional top-performing schools.
He said the government, led by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, wants schools throughout Guyana to be able to produce students capable of competing at the highest levels.
“We want you to be able to attend high school in Berbice, in Essequibo, in Linden, in Region 10—in Region Nine, in Region One, in Region Seven or Region Eight. We want you to be able to attend secondary school irrespective of where you and your parents live, and be able to excel,” Singh said.
He said this objective was driving a range of programmes aimed at ensuring that secondary schools across Guyana can provide world-class education.
According to Singh, the focus includes expanding access to adequate classroom spaces and facilities while enabling schools to offer a wider range of subjects and activities.
He pointed to the need for natural science laboratories, technical and vocational facilities, information and communications technology infrastructure, as well as opportunities for students to participate in extra-curricular and sporting activities.
Earlier in the programme, Headmistress Sabereena Supaul highlighted the school’s improved CSEC performance, including an almost 100 per cent increase in the number of students sitting the examinations.
She said the school recorded 100 per cent passes in several subjects, with the top graduating student, Sufia Mohamed, securing 12 Grade Ones, six Grade Twos and one Grade Three.
Saria Yunas, who wrote 13 subjects, followed with 12 Grade Ones and one Grade Three.
Singh also congratulated Region Six for producing Guyana’s top CSEC performer for 2026.
The top student, from Tagore Memorial Secondary School, achieved 26 Grade Ones and one Grade Two after writing 27 subjects.
The ceremony was also attended by Regional Education Officer Satesh Udit, who delivered remarks.