NGSA results: Single mother uses Google to help son who topped Region 6

…as Skeldon Primary cops 2 in Top 10

By Andrew Carmichael

The top National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) student of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), an aspiring mechanical engineer, was assisted by his single parent mother who had to consult with Google for assistance.
This is as Skeldon Primary, apart from having the region’s top student, also has a second student in the Region’s Top Ten.
Top student Raphael Omarao, who secured 518 marks, said that initially he did not take the preparation for the exams as seriously as other students and only spent a little time studying on his own.
In addition, the challenges brought about by the pandemic were no incentive to studying and face-to-face classroom interaction was lacking.
Raphael Omarao, with 518, and Jada Dhanpat, with 512, both had the same teacher who expected both to do well at the exams.
“I would read for about 15 minutes and then take a ten-minute break, which is not very productive,” he said with a smile of accomplishment on his face.
Noting that the pandemic made learning difficult for him, the aspiring mechanical engineer said he had some challenges in asking questions when he was in virtual classes.

“We had classes on zoom but then sometimes the internet was not that good and because of that sometimes you could not understand what the teacher was saying and sometimes the teacher would disconnect and sometimes we had blackouts so you can’t really learn the lesson,” he explained.
He said that is when his mother, who is a single parent, stepped in. Not being a teacher by profession, Ruth Omarao related that on many occasions she had to consult with Google in order to ensure that she was imparting the correct knowledge. 
She said even though notes were being sent to her son, on many occasions the teacher could not get to explain the notes, and this was challenging for her son.
“I believe a child needs a little face-to-face, so I had to be the mom and the teacher. Raphael and I would be sitting together working and whenever we have challenges, we Google it sometimes and then I ask for help from different teachers.”
She noted that Raphael is very good at mathematics.

Very proud
Also from Skeldon Primary in the Region’s Top 10 was Jada Dhanpat, who obtained 512 marks.
Danpat said she is very proud of herself for attaining the marks she did and that it is due to late-night studying, the help of her parents and teachers who helped her along the way on her path to success.
She referred to her class teacher as being very instrumental in her success.
“Every day she would do online Zoom with us. There were two teachers who did online Zoom with us. One did Maths and Social Studies and the other did Science and English and they were very helpful to all of us.”
Both Omarao and Dhanpat had the same teacher who expected them to do well at the examination.
Dacia Mitchel has been a teacher for 13 years.
She said she was elated at the results from the two students but said she was not surprised since they were top students at the National Grade Four exams.
“I am happy that they actually delivered,” she said.
Meanwhile, the second spot in Region Six went to Sarah Mannu Cumberland with 517 marks.
Mannu said she studied very hard and was pushed by her parents. Her goal was to earn a place at Queen’s College which she achieved.
The aspiring lawyer said she was also following the Ministry of Education’s live feed of the results when she heard her name called.
“I just felt shocked because I wasn’t expecting that.”
The third spot was taken by Miya Hari of New Market Primary with 516 marks, who also got the school she wanted – Queen’s College.
According to the student who wants to become a teacher like her mother, virtual learning assisted greatly during the pandemic.
“All my teachers and my parents helped me. I have to thank the Ministry of Education for sending worksheets and textbooks to us. The textbooks have very useful information which helped me to prepare for the exams.”
“With virtual learning, it was quite difficult but it also helped because if we didn’t have that, we would be left back. Once you put the camera on you can see the teacher and she had a whiteboard which she writes on,” she explained to this publication.
Vishun Basdeo of Rose Hall Estate Primary was fourth with 513 marks while the fifth spot – 512 marks – was shared by Dhanpat, Rihanna Lewis of Port Mourant Primary and Maranda Adams of All Saints Primary.
Four students who gained 511 marks tied for the eighth spot: Anmarie Sukhra of Cropper Primary, Chartia Jagarnath of Tain Primary, Ciel Clements of All Saints Primary and Jameir Grant of St Alloysius Primary.