Out of the 182 students in Guyana’s top one per cent at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), some 81 of them are from Georgetown, or District 11, which is equivalent to 45.5 per cent.
The Education Ministry announced the results on Friday, and based on the analysis, 37 students are from Region Four, 33 from Region Three, 11 from Region Two, nine from Region 10, seven from Region Six, two from Region Five, and one from Region Nine.
The top one per cent stops at a cut-off point of 507 marks. The results showed that Angelica Subryan of Cumberland Primary, Jonathon Gomes of Jo-Sel Educational Institute and Neuel Bancroft tied for the top spot with 518 marks each.
Two of the five schools in East Canje, Region Six, have four of the Region’s top ten students at this NGSA.
In addition, about 55 per cent of the top one spots emanated from private institutions.
Although having the number one spot, Cumberland Primary has to share the glory with Rose Hall Estate Primary as Martin Jagmohan with 513 marks was second for the Region while Zakariyah Jaffar of Cumberland Primary with 511 marks occupied the fourth spot and Naresh Shivkumar of Rose Hall Estate Primary with 507 was sixth in the region.
The most excited person seemed to be Jagmohan’s teacher. She was also the teacher for the students of Cumberland Primary before moving to Rose Hall Estate Primary.
Miss Banmattie Arjune
Miss Banmattie Arjune taught for 29 years at Cumberland before moving to Rose Hall two years ago and taking charge of the students preparing for this year’s NGSA.
“I am so excited. I did my best when I was at Cumberland and we always got students in the top ten and now I am here and we have done it,” she said.
According to her, Jagmohan, who is part of a broken home, received much sport from his grandfather who is a retiree.
Meanwhile, Shivkumar told this publication that he was so excited he felt he was going to burst.
“I just felt like running and screaming,” he said after learning that he was in the region’s top ten.
Shivkumar was hoping to gain a place at Queen’s College but will have to settle for a place at The Bishops’ High. He plans to become a doctor when he becomes an adult. His mother was also pleased with her eldest son’s performance.
Meanwhile, Zakariyah Jaffar of Cumberland, who was fourth in the region, said he is happy to be in the regional top ten. He said getting there was not easy.
“I sacrificed some of my devices like my computer and my phone in order to study and I went to extra lessons.”
He said he wants to become a biochemist since he has a great interest in science and chemicals. After an absence of four years, Rose Hall Town Primary is back in the regional top ten and also making the country’s top one per cent.
Yogita Balkrisha of Rose Hall Town Primary placed third in the region with 512 marks ad was awarded a place at St Rose’s High.”
“I am feeling very happy,” the aspiring teacher told this publication.
According to her, the exams were not difficult but tricky. Apart from her teacher, she said she also received help from her mother in preparing for the exams.
In the fifth spot was Hakim Hawker of Kildonan Primary with 509 marks. He was awarded a place at Queen’s College.
Rounding off the top one per cent of the country from Region Six is Harmony Rose of Corriverton Primary with 507 marks. She was awarded a place at The Bishops’ High.
She wants to be a psychologist so she can help persons who are suicidal. Her choice came after witnessing one of her friends and a relative committing suicide.
She said being a psychologist is one way she can have a voice.
The others completing the region’s top ten are Tamesh Sukhram of Tain Primary with 506 marks, Felicity Ram of Port Mourant Primary with 506 marks and Rovish Naidu of Rose Hall Primary with 505 marks. All three were awarded places at The Bishops’ High.
