By
Stabroek
staff
Thursday, October 29, 2009
>
Guyana has once again produced the most outstanding
candidate overall at the CSEC examinations and for the
fourth consecutive time that student is from Queen’s
College (QC).
Yesterday Minister of Education Shaik Baksh met the most
outstanding candidate overall, Kia Persaud, as well as the
most outstanding students in the Sciences and Business
Education at his office on Brickdam.
Speaking to the students, Baksh said, “We are proud in
the ministry and also all of Guyana is proud to know that
once again we have excelled.” He told the students that
their achievements show “what we can do in the education
sector of Guyana. We wish you the best in whatever career
you wish to pursue.”
Referring to the fact that all of the outstanding
students were girls, he noted that a study is currently
ongoing to find out what can be done to encourage boys to
perform as well as the girls.
Also congratulating the girls on their success was
Minister within the Ministry of Education Dr Desrey Fox. She
told the children how “very proud” the ministry, the
teachers and the parents were of their achievements, adding,
“we are looking forward to great things” from them.
Plaques will be presented later on in the week to the
schools of the outstanding performers, the minister said.
Meanwhile, Persaud, who was also the country’s
outstanding performer at this year’s CSEC examinations,
said she was very excited and happy.
She said she was especially looking forward to travelling to
Tortola in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) next week where
she along with other outstanding performers will be honoured
by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). Persaud, who
displayed a humble and quiet demeanour said that she had
worked pretty hard. She seemed eager to return to school.
Nonetheless, the young lady said that her success was
because of the lengthy periods of studying she put in. She
said she began preparing for the exams by studying during
the vacation she had before she entered fifth form. Persaud
is currently in sixth form pursuing CAPE studies at her
school and said that she may consider utilising the
scholarship that she has acquired with her latest
achievement.
All the outstanding performers have the chance to study
at the University of the West Indies on scholarships if they
complete the CAPE examinations. Persaud said she is
currently undecided as to her exact career focus, but says
that it will be something in the science field.
Her teacher related that the fact she was selected as the
region’s outstanding overall candidate came as no surprise
since she was a hard worker and had been coming out on top
throughout her school life.
And for the upcoming students who will write CSEC exams in
the future, Persaud’s advice is to, “Keep working hard;
don’t give up; it will work out in the end.”
Persaud wrote 14 subjects and achieved 14 Grade 1s.
Meanwhile, the other QC student, Padminee Roshundatt,
received the honour of the most outstanding performer in the
Sciences.
She wrote 14 subjects and achieved Grade 1s in all. And the
most outstanding performer in Business Education Sonia
Yacoob of the New Amsterdam Multilateral School wrote 11
business subjects and gained 11 Grade 1s. Both of the
girls expressed their excitement and happiness at the
recognition and both are relishing the chance to travel to
the BVI.
