A supportive home environment and a consistent record of high academic achievement have propelled Nitya Narine of Tagore Memorial Secondary School to the top of Guyana’s 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results, with 26 Grade Ones and one Grade Two from 27 subjects.
Nitya, 15, credited her parents, both education professionals, with encouraging rather than intimidating her throughout her academic journey. Her mother, Fareeza Narine, is a teacher, while her father works as an Education Officer.
“My parents are the two people who I look up to the most. They’ve always been my biggest support system. Whenever I needed help, I went to them,” she said.
Nitya’s high-flying academic record dates back to 2021, when she sat the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) while still in Grade Five, securing a place at Bishop’s High School. She said she began preparing only three weeks before that examination, at her parents’ encouragement.
Speaking with Ignite News, Fareeza Narine said her daughter had consistently ranked among the top performers throughout secondary school, often scoring in the 90s.
“She’s always topping, even at the secondary school. Throughout her academic life she has been performing over the 90s, as close as 98, 94, 95 percentage at secondary school, fourth form and so on,” she said.
Nitya said she deliberately chose to sit 27 subjects because she believed in her own ability to succeed.
“I thank God for having blessed me with my academic abilities and I always believed that I had the potential to do extremely well judging by my performances throughout the years,” she said, adding that she wanted to “put my school on top.”
Fareeza said the number 27 held personal significance for her daughter, having been her competition number when she won the national spelling bee.
“I think that motivated her to go 27 subjects because she won and she won it big and it was a proud achievement for her,” she said.
Even when her parents raised concerns that 27 subjects might be too demanding, Nitya remained resolute, her mother said.
Nitya’s written examinations ran from May 5 to June 9, with some days requiring her to sit three or four subjects. She said thorough preparation helped her manage the schedule without excessive anxiety.
“There wasn’t really any anxiety because I know how I studied enough and I studied my best, the best that I could have done,” she said, adding that she made time for hobbies including painting and drawing.
Nitya advised students entering Fifth Form to set goals early and maintain balance.
“They should do what they want to do and what they would love to do. And when they’re working towards it, let them set the goal from early and then put all their efforts into it. But also, they should make time for themselves so that studying does not feel a burden on them,” she said.
Nitya has applied to the University of Guyana to pursue law, a field distinct from her parents’ careers in education.
“I find the law to feel quite admirable.
I like everything there is about law. I like fighting for justice, for all the good,” she said, adding that she also enjoys public speaking.
Fareeza said the family was proud of Nitya’s decision to chart her own path.
“We are happy that she chose something that she wants and not that we are forcing her to do or go into our field,” she said, crediting the teachers and others who supported her daughter through the preparation for 27 subjects.
