Anuradha Dev, the country’s top student at the recent Caribbean Secondary Certificate Examinations (CSEC) has been adjudged the overall top student in the Caribbean.
CSEC top student Anuradha Dev receiving a laptop from Education Minister Shaik Baksh
Dev’s achievement has enabled Guyana to secure the top prize for the fifth time in six years, Education Minister Shaik Baksh announced at a press briefing convened at his 26 Brickdam, Georgetown ministry on Friday.
The Queen’s College student who obtained 15 subjects at the examinations also edged her competitors to emerge as the best science student in the region.
Guyana for the first time also copped the Best Short Story in the Caribbean, thanks to Nathan Indarsingh, also of Queen’s College.
Yet another Queen College student, Mariesa Jagnanan, has also made Guyana proud. Jagnanan who obtained 15 grade ones at the examinations has been adjudged the best business student in the region.
Baksh was confident that Guyana will also walk away with the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute’s Most Outstanding Student Award in Agriculture Science. Guyana has been winning that prize since 2008.
The minister presented Dev with a laptop while Indarsingh and Jagnanan received monetary prizes.
Dev, 15, who is pondering on furthering her studies at the University of the West Indies, said she wants to study medicine and later branch off in the field of psychiatry.
The Guyana Times Page 6 columnist related that the reason for pursuing a career in mental health was based on research on suicide for her Social Studies School Based Assessment (SBA).
According to the young lady, she was struck when she found out that most people here between the ages of 15- 24 are victims of the social scourge.
“I realised that these are people my age, my peers’ age and added to that, they are few psychiatrists in Guyana.
So I decided if I really want to make a change in my country and help Guyana, this would be perfect.” The Queen’s College student also said when she completes her studies, she will serve her country, and encouraged all young people here to stay and make their contributions to the development of Guyana.
Dev pointed out that too many Guyanese are complaining about the state of the country and instead of helping to develop it by giving their service, they migrate.
She stressed if Guyana is to make greater progress, it would need the service of every youth working in the best interest of the country.
On a different note, the 15-year-old believes that many times young people her age tend to concentrate too much on their studies and do not strike a balance with play. She encourages students who would be sitting the CSEC examinations next year 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.
Her former colleague, Jagnanan, said it took a lot of effort, hard work and dedication to achieve her dreams.
“I am very elated, I was lucky to have had determined and dedicated teachers and have wonderful parents who supported me along the way, which inspired me to do well.” Jagnanan, an aspiring economist is currently a student at the University of Guyana pursuing studies in the discipline.
Meanwhile, Baksh said he is pleased with the progress in education.
“I am very proud and happy as all of the other managers of the Ministry of Education, about this outstanding performance of Guyana at the CSEC.” Baksh said too that the ministry recognises that there are still many challenges in the education sector and has been continuously reviewing programmes and policies to address the shortcomings.
