Anuradha Dev makes Guyana proud

Dear Editor,

Congratulations for Anuradha Dev are most deserved at this moment.

Ms Dev, the country’s top student at the recent Caribbean Secondary Certificate Examinations (CSEC), has now been adjudged the overall top student of the Caribbean.

This is a most remarkable achievement, as it transcends the personal and speaks volumes for the country’s education system.

In fact, with Dev’s achievement, Guyana has now secured the top prize for the fifth time in six years. This is indeed no mean feat.

To make matters even better, the lass from Queen’s College, with her 15 subjects at the examinations, also edged out her competitors to emerge as the best science student in the region.

For cricket lovers, this is better than the ‘man-of the-final’ and ‘most valuable player’ (MVP) awards combined. Dev’s remarkable performance shows yet again that irrespective of the many denouncements, the local education sector is really ‘on top’ where high schooling is concerned. So in lauding the young academic, one must never forget that she is a living and undeniable proof that the education sector is proving itself to be effective.

Editor, along with Dev’s two regional firsts, Guyana also copped the first prize (for the first time) in the Best Short Story category. This came via Nathan Indarsingh, also of Queen’s College.

And to make the list longer, Mariesa Jagnanan, also from Queen’s College, who obtained 15 grade ones, took home the Best Business student award.

As expected, this is only the beginning for Dev. She is just 15 and is pondering furthering her studies, at the University of the West Indies. She is courting medicine and may branch off into the field of psychiatry.

The Queen’s College student also said that when she completes her studies, she will serve her country.

Dev, even though precociously academic, is also well rounded. She is one who believes that many times, young people her age tend to concentrate too much on their studies, and do not strike a balance with play. So she is encouraging CSEC examination students to find time to talk, read and do normal things, to ease the pressure. This, she believes, will help them to perform well at their examinations.

As Guyana still has many challenges in the education sector, one must be glad that there are continuous reviewing, updating and expansion. If at this juncture, Guyana can repeatedly beat the rest of the region, then one can imagine what will happen in the very near future.

Yours truly,

Sanjay Persaud