Dedication has led to our success – DHM Cumberland Primary School

– secures 5 of the top 10 spots in Region 6

By Andrew Carmichael

The Cumberland Primary School in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has produced five of that region’s top ten students at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). What’s more impressive is that four of those top students came from one teacher’s classroom.

Sherilee Samuels-Reid, a 46-year-old graduate deputy headmistress, spent approximately three decades shaping young minds with dedication and passion.
Recently, her impressive career bore fruit as four students from her class emerged among the top ten at the NGSA for Region Six.
The teacher said she must thank The Almighty for the school’s success. Miss Samuels-Reid did not want to take the credit for the students’ success, but said it was a team of teachers who worked with the students.
Apart from the prolonged teachers’ strike, she pointed out, one student from her class died, posing challenges for the students. Nevertheless, she was confident in the potential of the students.
“I would have supported my union, but also had my children’s interest at heart. I would like to thank the teachers at Cumberland Primary. We are a team, especially the Grade Six teachers. We would have worked as a team; we had very supportive parents, and the children were very motivated. We would have motivated them so they were eager to excel- that is what gave us our success. We were a team: parents, pupils and teachers. We worked as a team,” the humble teacher said.
Samuels-Reid has been a Grade Six teacher for most of her 30-year career. She says dedication has led to her success. Over the years, she has guided many students in the top bracket for the region and the country at national exams.
“In 2022 we topped the country, so we are accustomed to these kinds of achievements,” she boasted.
“It was not anything new. We always try to excel in the region. It is a blessing, so that children could be blessed by our knowledge,” she added.
In offering advice to fellow teachers, she highlighted the importance of innovation, resourcefulness, and commitment.
“For these children’s success, we would have worked beyond the call of duty. I used to call in my class at 7:30 in the morning up to midday, when they take their lunch; and then we would work in the afternoon. It is a lot of work for those who can afford it – some people have family commitments, but I am a grandmother now, so I can afford to do it. Even when I was young, I used to be doing it. I have a heart for teaching; I love it, and it brings joy. So, it is a lot of commitment and it takes a lot out of you,” Samuels-Reid explained.
The five students from the school in the Region’s top ten are Khadeja Ramsammy, Jenna Phillips, Moneesha Naresh, Emma Ramcharam, and Shavish Jaikaran.

Ramsammy, who gained 501.41 marks and secured a place at Queen’s College, related that she was pleased with her performance and was happier that she did not disappoint anyone.
Noting that both of her parents are teachers, the top performer said that in preparing for the exams she did what is normal. “I did not really study much. I went to school and went to lessons, and that was about it,” she revealed.
Ramsammy said she struck a balance and included exercise in her routine. According to her, the teachers’ strike did not affect her, since she was able to study on her own.
“I used to do that a lot off of my own, without the help of anybody,” she explained.
She is advising future NGSA students not to overwork themselves, and to have a healthy routine that they must stick to, and one that has balance.
“If you have questions, ask your teachers and ensure that the questions are answered – just don’t overwork yourself,” she advised.

Meanwhile, following closely, Jenna Phillips, who secured second place with 500.45 marks, shared her journey and her expectations in adapting to a new school environment. The COVID-19 pandemic which saw schools being closed was one of the challenges she had to overcome.
Initially, she was attending Sheet Anker Primary, but took a transfer to Cumberland Primary. “The reason I transferred is because Sheet Anchor was not doing a lot of work that I could have relied on. When I got to Cumberland, I did not do very well because at that time I was out of school for two years and did not remember a lot of stuff…but I picked up well and I couldn’t have done badly, because I had my favourite teacher Miss Sherilee,” she said.
During the teachers’ strike, Phillips said, she stayed at home and worked on past exam papers. “I played a lot of games during the strike. I took it like a break,” she said with a chuckle.
She said her goal was to get a place at the highest school and to make her parents proud, and she is happy to have achieved them both. “I wanted to make my teacher proud and to show her that if she works with me enough, I can do anything,” she added.
Phillips said she also had a goal of doing better than her brother had done at a previous NGSA, and she was also able to do that. Her family was very supportive and gave her the push she needed.
In advising those to follow, Phillips says if they want to succeed, they would need to work hard.

Moneesha Naresha, who achieved 499.31 marks, highlighted the effective preparation facilitated by her teachers at Cumberland Primary, and her grandfather. She stated that studying was tough for her, but past exam papers which her teacher used assisted greatly.
“Although the teachers were on strike, some of our teachers made an effort to come out to school and be with us. They gave us work to do. I would like to thank Miss Sherilee-Reid who pushed us a lot, and I would like to thank my grandfather who helped me with my math skills. I wasn’t really great in math, (but) whenever I worked past papers, he would always help me and make me understand things better.”
Naresha is advising students who want to succeed to revise every day.

Shavish Jaikarran, who secured 497.43 marks, said consistent study habits and supplemental lessons were his success strategy. However, the teachers’ strike was one of the major challenges he faced while preparing for the exams.
“Grade Five did not have school, but we had the option to go if we wanted,” he said.
Discussing his study habits, Jaikarran said he always started with English, then moved to Mathematics before moving to Science and Social Studies. “I did a lot of revision at home from about 4 in the afternoon to like 8 in the night,” he said.
Jaikarran is encouraging future students to stay calm when they enter the examination room. “It is a big day, so I would advise them to take lessons; lessons help a lot,” he stated.
Completing the top ten are Calcia Narain (Rose Hall Primary, 499.5 marks), Vincent Newyear (All Saints Primary, 499.38 marks), Emma Ramcharan (Cumberland Primary, 499.22 marks), Ezra Harry (Cropper Primary, 498.52 marks), Faith Narsingh (Massiah Primary, 497.38 marks), and Noorisha Harrinarine (Rose Hall Primary, 496.53 marks).
Notably, all ten top-performing students have secured places at Queen’s College.