Anna Regina student tops country with 19 Grade Ones at CSEC

– country records highest pass rate at CSEC with 73%

– hinterland student impressed at examinations

– improved pass rates in English A, modern languages and additional mathematics

 DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, August 14, 2019

 Riana Toney secured 19 Grade ones and topped the country at the recent Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. Toney, from Essequibo in Region 2, was among the 11,467 who wrote the exams.

Securing second place was Alex Abraham of St. Roses High with 18 Ones and two Grade Twos, while Charrandat Naraine, another student Anna Regina got the third spot with 18 Ones and one Grade Two.

The results of the CSEC indicated that education in Guyana is on an upward trajectory with the public schools performing exceptionally well. This year’s results are also Guyana’s highest performance at the examinations with an overall 73% pass rate.  

The number of students in the top 1% from schools in Region 2 includes seven from Anna Regina Secondary; five from Abram’s Zuil Secondary and one from Al Madinah Islamic Secondary.

Among the astonishing feats achieved this year is that of two students from St. Ignatius Secondary broke into the top 1%. Amisha Ramdin wrote 20 subjects at the examinations and secured 15 Grade Ones and five Grade Twos. Abdul Subhan wrote 16 subjects and gained 14 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos.

In Region 6, New Amsterdam Secondary saw seven students in the top 1% bracket, while, Skeldon Line Path Secondary had six. Berbice High also secured five spots while J C Chandisingh Secondary and Tagore Secondary both had four. Two students from Mackenzie High School in Region 10 also made their mark.

Additionally, Guyana saw significant improvement in 21 subject areas. Passes in Grades One to Three saw substantial improvement in English A with 77% in 2019 compared to 67% in 2018. Further, Mathematics improved from 68.4% in 2018 to 80% in 2019 while regular Mathematics remained constant with 43% pass rate.

Portuguese recorded an improved performance of 81% in 2019 compared to 72% in 2018. Spanish moved from 64.4% in 2018 to 68.3% in 2019, while French gained acceptable grades.

As it relates to the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), there was an overall pass rate of 93% with Queen’s College securing the top three positions. Michael Bhopaul and Leonard Gobin of Queen’s College secured eight Grade Ones. Diego Barnette, also from Queen’s College, secured seven Grade Ones and two Grade Twos.

Minister of Education, Hon. Dr. Nicolette Henry said the results of the examinations indicate that there is a lot of hope ahead for Guyana’s youths and education sector.

“If we continue on that trajectory, I do not doubt that Guyana will become the number one country in the Caribbean when it comes to education” the minister stated.

She also commended the performance of the students in the hinterland which, she said, is a testimony to work of those tasked with developing the education sector. According to the minister, 2019 has been an exceptional year for education and commended the educators, parents and students for doing what was required to achieve success.

“I believe that education is on a good path and I look forward to coming next year and bringing even better results,” Minister Henry asserted.