Months of sacrifice, discipline and quiet family support led to tears of joy and celebration for Region Five’s top 10 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) performers.
Behind every mark on the list is a story of early mornings, late nights and families who refused to let their children give up.
Leading the region is Ranveer Itwaru of Mortice Primary School, who secured 483.63 marks to earn a place at Queen’s College, also placing him among the country’s top 20 performers. He describes his journey as relatively smooth, though far from effortless.
“My teacher held after-school lessons where we revised, worked past papers and prepared together. When I got home, I would do extra questions, eat dinner and go to bed early,” he said.
His father made sure he had everything he needed; his mother spent evenings walking through exercises with him. Mathematics, once his weakest subject in Grade Five, became one of his strongest by Grade Six.
“I wanted to do well, make my parents proud and build a good reputation for myself,” he said.
Close behind in second place was Amiya Suenarine of New Sapodilla School of Excellence, who scored 483.61 marks and also earned a place at Queen’s College. She still cannot quite believe it.
“I felt very shocked, but very grateful,” she said.
Amiya gave up drawing, television and time outdoors to study, attending lessons at her teacher’s home and working through additional exercises. “My mom helped me study a lot. She prayed for me, and my dad was very supportive too,” she said. She hopes to become a lawyer, joking that people often tell her she is good at arguing, and drawing inspiration from an aunt pursuing a career in law.
Third place went to Daffanie Persaud of Mortice Primary School, who scored 482.63 marks and also secured a place at Queen’s College, despite a frightening moment during her English Paper Two examination, when a strong wind sent the classroom blackboard and clock crashing to the floor.
“I was really scared. I lost focus completely and went blank for a while, but I thank God I was still able to do well,” she recalled.
Her advice to future candidates: “Everyone learns differently. Just try your best, stay calm, and if you really want something, keep working for it because you will achieve it.” She remains undecided between medicine and law.
Fourth place went to Gabriella Hooper of Rosignol Primary School, who scored 481.71 marks and earned a place at The Bishops’ High School. She recalled being in her bedroom when her mother and aunt rushed in, screaming with excitement.
“I expected to be in the top 10, but I never expected fourth place,” she said. Torn between medicine and veterinary science, her love of animals may settle the choice.
Rounding out the top five was Marita Allison Calistro of Maraikobai Primary, who scored 480.95 marks after months of daily revision and extra lessons from both her online and classroom teachers, despite finding Science challenging.
“I haven’t figured out what I aspire to be as yet, but I really admire my cousin who is a nurse,” she said.
Sixth place went to Angelina Persaud of Rosignol Primary School, who scored 480.93 marks and also earned a place at The Bishops’ High School. She learned the news watching a live stream on her phone. “I was thrilled and happy,” she said, adding she never expected to place among the region’s best. She hopes to become a teacher.
Seventh place went to Emily Benjamin of New Sapodilla School of Excellence, who scored 480.92 marks and earned a place at The Bishops’ High School.
“I was overjoyed, but I also felt I could have done even better,” she admitted. Inspired by the kindness of cabin crew on her first overseas trip, she now dreams of becoming a flight attendant, and urged next year’s candidates to stay faithful and trust the process.
Eighth place went to Kerriel Omesa Walters of Cotton Tree Primary School, who scored 480.61 marks. Her greatest support, she said, came from her mother — who doubled as her Grade Five and Six teacher.
“She made sure that I studied, she made sure that I had my classes, I attended my classes, and she made sure I went to lessons after school,” Kerriel explained. She now aspires to become a paediatrician.
Ninth place was secured by Lebron Joseph of Hopetown Primary School, who scored 480.01 marks and earned a place at The Bishops’ High School. His mother reminded him constantly that she would be proud of him regardless of the school he achieved, while his father made sure he stayed focused on his books.
“In Composition, I was very weak, but I attended classes and I got better and better by the day, and I made it,” he said. He hopes to become a mechanical engineer, inspired by his fascination with cars.
Completing the region’s top 10 is Adina Haniff of Cotton Tree Primary School, who scored 479.93 marks, earning a place at St Stanislaus College, though she plans to transfer to Rosignol Secondary School. Inspired by her aunt’s resilience, she dreams of becoming a doctor.
“I had my aim high, and I aimed high because I wanted to make my family proud and myself proud,” she said. “All my family members, they did amazing, so it’s my point here now to carry on the legacy.”
Her advice to next year’s candidates: “Always believe in yourself. It doesn’t matter which school you get; what matters is how you perform afterward.”
