Three cop highest marks at NGSA

Three students have gained 518 marks at the 2022 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) to secure the top place at the placement examinations.

Those students are Neuel Joshia Bancroft of Annandale Primary, Angelica Subryan of Cumberland Primary and Jonathan Avery Gomes of Josel Education Institute.

Second place with 517 marks was copped by four candidates. Those pupils are Elijah Ram and Jaysean Manram of Graham’s Hall Primary, Sierra Prescod of Westfield Prep and Elliana Ganpat of MAE’s Under 12 Primary.

The results of the assessment were officially announced on Friday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. Director of Operations at CXC, Dr. Nicole Manning in her remarks pointed out that the integrity and quality mechanisms extended to other examinations conducted by the Council.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand who made the announcement, noted that 16,223 candidates were registered to write the examinations.

She highlighted several measures which were implemented to ensure that the school system remains successful after the COVID-19 pandemic. “Once you put your mind to it and there is political will, it can happen,” she noted.

The Minister congratulated the top students but also encouraged others to not be discouraged. “Just reaching this stage makes you a winner,” Manickchand said, noting that “there are millions of children around the world who do not get to the grade six level and there are over 1,000 children in Guyana who could’ve reached here but didn’t because of circumstances…you are a winner if you took this exam.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by Chief Education Officer Dr. Marcel Hutson who pleaded with parents to be kind to their children. He said, “all of us have our strengths and weaknesses which serve to remind us that we need one another and that we need to work harder as a team to ensure every child fulfill their calling in the area of their giftedness.”

This year’s NGSA saw improved performance in Science and Social Studies. Science moved from 40.12 per cent to 46.45 per cent while Social Studies moved from 56.3 per cent in 2021 to 58.9 per cent.

However, performance in English and Mathematics declined. English passes declined from 65.71 per cent to 64.75 per cent while Mathematics declined from 36.5 per cent to 34.7 per cent.