Reg. 8 records 10% improvement in Math at NGSA
– Reg. 8 top performers awarded
DPI, Guyana, Monday, July 22, 2019
Eleven-year-old Celestia Masir is the latest to prove that accessing good education is not limited to students on the coast.
Emerging as the top performer for Potaro-Siparuni, Region 8 with 503 marks, Masir who hails from Mahdia Primary School was awarded a place at St. Joseph’s High School but will be attending President’s College because of its live-in facilities.
“It doesn’t matter where you came from, once you are focused, determined to do well and you have the support, you will succeed,” she encouraged. Though still uncertain of a career path, Masir is confident that President’s College will be the place that helps fulfil her dreams.
Young Masir made these comments at an award ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Education to recognise the Region’s top-performing students at the Kato Primary School.
Chief Education Officer (CEO), Dr. Marcel Hutson reiterated the ministry’s commitment to bridging the gaps that exist between coastal and hinterland education stressing that access to quality, equitable education will promote lifelong learning.
Additionally, he said that the performance exhibited is in part because of the several interventions the Education Ministry has made over the past few years to improve student performance. Chief among these was His Excellency, President David Granger’s 5Bs initiative (free Buses, Boats, Bicycles, Books and Breakfast) from which all the student benefitted.
Rated as the most improved region following this year’s NGSA, Region 8 has benefited from methodology training, capacity building, and has seen increased parent involvement, which the CEO described as key to educational performance.
![Some of the top perfomrers for Region 8 along with Minister of Social Cohesion, Hon. Dr. George Norton [centre], Chief Education Officer (CEO), Dr. Marcel Hutson [third from right] and Regional Education Officer (REdO) Penelope McIntosh and Assistant Chief Education Officer (Primary), Carol Benn [left and second from left respectively]](https://i0.wp.com/dpi.gov.gy/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/DSC7529.jpg?w=323&h=216&ssl=1 "_DSC7529")
Regional Education Officer (REdO), Penelope McIntosh congratulated the 120 Primary school teachers whom she described as hard working.
349 pupils from 24 public primary schools sat the NGSA in Region 8 this year while the lone private school saw 18 of its pupils sitting the exam.
Region 8 has more than doubled its performance in Mathematics moving from 9.1 percent in 2018 to 19.1% in 2019.
The region has also recorded increases in English (32.2% in 2018 to 33.1% in 2019) and Social studies (11.5% in 2018 to 13.7% in 2019).
Delivering remarks at the award ceremony, Minister of Social Cohesion, Hon. Dr. George Norton commended the top performers for their sterling efforts at this year’s examinations.
“The fact that you are in the Hinterland is no reason why you shouldn’t [receive a good education],” Minister Norton said. “I am seeing the future of Guyana here with me,” he added.
The minister donated several volleyballs, cricket and football gear to Kato Village to help facilitate sports development in Indigenous communities.
The top performers who were presented with Bursaries from Ansa McAl Limited today include: –
Celestia Masir (Mahdia Primary) 503; Ravindra Dalchan (Monkey Mountain Primary) 481; Rachael Pais (Kopinang Primary) 466; Nalas Thomas (Paramakatoi Primary) 464; Naziya Cheong (Monkey Mountain Primary) 462; Jazon Ramos (Monkey Mountain Primary) 462; Nevin Mc Lean (School of Excellence) 461; Eliza King (Maikwak Primary) 457; Abner Gomes (Kato Primary) 456 and Vera Domingo (Micobie Primary) 453.