Teacher commends retired excavator operator who helped prepare grandson for NGSA

…“teachers can only do so much”, parents need to help – father of top student

A retired excavator operator was the main person assisting his grandson Martin Jagmohan of Rose Hall Estate Primary to be one of the top students at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) with 513 marks and being in the top one per cent of the country.

Martin also placed second for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
According to the Rose Hall Estate Primary student, who wants to become a doctor, his grandfather was very instrumental in his success.
“He aided me by helping me with the newer stuff like the new Math formula,” Martin who was awarded a place at Queen’s College (QC) said.
According to the child, he was aiming for a spot at the Berbice High School (BHS). His school teacher, Banmattie Arjune, said she was impressed with the support Martin’s grandfather provided.
“That grandfather is very dedicated and I would say he is knowledgeable because sometimes when I am teaching the child would tell me that he knows that already. A few times when the grandfather comes to the school, I will make jokes with him and tell him that he might have to come and help me with the classroom because he is knowledgeable, I can say that,” Ms Arjune said.
According to the 63-year-old Jagmohan, he was expecting Martin to gain a place at QC, noting that even though Math has changed since his days at school, the concepts remain the same.

“Modern Math is not much different. I understand it quickly, it’s not difficult so I always boost him up and give him some corrections,” Jagmohan said, adding that he is more than happy that he is now retired, affording him the time to assist his grandson with his studies as he prepared for NGSA.
“From 6 o’clock I would get him up with his books,” he said.
Parents’ involvement in their children’s performance has been on more than one occasion emphasised by Education Minister Priya Manickchand.

Parents’ involvement
This has been reemphasised by the father of Region Six top NGSA performer Angelica Subryan, who along with two others gained 518 marks to hold the top spot nationally.
According to Jermaine Subryan, his wife Sharron worked with Angelica on the worksheets provided by the Education Ministry.
“We are grateful to the Ministry for providing those worksheets that they did. Her mother played an exceptional role during that period of time to work with her. I must say thanks to my wife for being that extra support and doing the teaching for both of our kids during that time.”
He said parents need to be supportive.
“Every child is different; every child has their own ability. As parents, we need to be supportive and we need to put in the work at home; the teachers can only do so much. It makes a big difference when you work with them at home. Fortunately, my daughter has had that support all of the time and I think that is what made her excel the way she did,” the Guyana Power and Light employee said.
Subryan is advising all parents to work hard at home with their children. (Andrew Carmichael)