…Region came second according to analysis – Education Minister
Twelve top performers in this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations who hail from the mining town of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were recognised for their outstanding performances by Education Minister Nicolette Henry on Sunday.
Education Minister Nicolette Henry and education officials pose with the top student of Region 10
The students were honoured at a ceremony hosted at the One Mile Primary School, from where most of the Region’s top students were drawn.
Those honoured were the Region’s top student Shakina McGregor, who secured 521 marks; Somira Dainty; Latanya Edwards; Zaria Jacobis; Oroyo Trotman; Anton Ward and Zalika Dey of One Mile Primary School.
The others were Seraiah Doris- Walker of Amelia’s Ward Primary; Shakina London, Shannia Flatts and Makayla Moseley of the Watooka Day Primary; and Owen Hooper of Regma Primary.
Minister Henry, in her address, pointed out the Region would have performed second best in this year’s examinations compared to the other administrative regions across the country.
Minister Henry presents a plaque to Zaria Jacobis of One Mile Primary
She noted that this was testimony that with a bit more effort there could be more improvement in the Region’s performance.
The Minister congratulated the students, noting that they were performing well at a time when prioritising education was of utmost importance.
“I believe that when you would have excelled, when you do well, you should be recognised. You should also be encouraged to continue to do better and it is my expectation that this is the beginning of a very long and positive journey for you and that we’ll be hearing and seeing much more about you in terms of your academic journey,” the Education Minister posited.
She added that education has to be recognised now more than ever, primarily because quality education went hand in hand with development even as Guyana was set to become an oil-producing country.
In this regard, Minister Henry stressed the need to continue to develop human resources and human capacity in an effort to encourage and support young aspiring leaders to ensure that they have whatever it took to move the country to prosperity.
She told those present that it takes a village to raise a child and everyone in the country to deliver education, as she thanked and applauded the parents of the students.
Minister Henry also stated there was still more work to be done, since quite a large number of students were unable to achieve more than 50 per cent.
“The idea is to ensure that when a student enters secondary school, that student is well prepared to matriculate at the CSEC level … and so, at the primary level we have to ensure that we do due diligence and prepare our children well,” she said.
The Minister added that in looking at data from across the Caribbean Region it was observed that Guyana has quite a lot of work to do, not only with regard to examination results but with student attendance and dropout rates among other areas.
As such, she said it would take the efforts of all, including the input of parents, and a paradigm shift.
“We have a lot of work to do in the Ministry … we also have a lot of work to do in the communities and so while I’ve recognised the students, I’ve recognised the parents, I certainly want to urge and ask of you to commit to taking education forward, as a Region, as a community…,” the Minister said.
Also present at the occasion were Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) Owen Pollard, Acting Regional Education Officer Keane Adams, Regional Unit Coordinator Simone King, Regional Executive Officer Orrin Gordon, Head Teachers, teachers, and parents.
