The top 10 performers at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were on Thursday awarded for their hard work at a ceremony hosted at the Lichas Hall in Linden.
The awardees along with Minister Nicolette Henry and other officials
Education Minister Nicolette Henry, in congratulating the students, noted that they have demonstrated great courage, determination, and the ability to work hard in achieving their goals.
The Minister further stated the while the task was to recognise the top students from across the Region, the efforts of all the students across the country that wrote the examinations this year were also recognised.
She explained that the ceremony was taking place at a time when there is a national discourse on the best method of exit at the Grade Six level and whether or not the NGSA is actually the best method.
Nevertheless, the Minister stated that she would like to see a lot more students performing at higher levels, not only at NGSA.
Henry pointed to progress in the delivery of quality public education as she urged parents to continue to play a meaningful role in their children’s education.
“I want to encourage parents to pay a larger role in the lives of your children, particularly when it comes to providing the supervision and the guidance that is needed…I want to assure you that every school in Guyana we’re placing emphasis on because what we want is to have a system whereby irrespective of the school assigned to a child, that child should be able to meet his or her full potential based on what is being offered and delivered at the schools”, she noted.
Further encouraging the students to continue along the path of success, Minister Henry noted that this step was only the beginning.
As such, she called on them not to become too complacent, but reflect on their paths and focus on creating new pathways for more successes. The Minister also expressed gratitude to ANSA McAL for financial contributions for the awardees.
Those awarded were Jasmine Simpson of the One Mile Primary school and Ravi Raymond of Regma Primary who both secured 523 marks, Taniya Spencer (3rd) of the Watooka Day Primary school with 520 marks, Tashaunsia Alder (3rd) of the Royal Halls of Learning private school also with 520 marks and Jarem Fraser (5th) of the One Mile Primary school with 519 marks.
They all have gained positions at Queen’s College.
Other awardees included Erykah Roberts (6th) of the Watooka Day Primary with 518 marks, Janae Bristol (7th) of Regma Primary with 515 marks, Ashanti Balgobin (8th) of the Amelia’s Ward Primary with 514 marks, Shaquon Ross (9th) of the Christianburg Primary with 513 marks and Yanell Easton (9th) of the Royal Halls of Learning who also secured 513 marks. They all were placed at the Bishops’ High School.
