Finally! CSEC results released QC girl leads the way with ten grade ones By Johann Earle and Christopher Yaw Tuesday, September 14th 2004

Kiran Mattai Queen's College student, 15-year-old Kiran Mattai is tops at this year's Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, with ten passes all Grade Ones. The Ministry of Education, which is yet to confirm whether she has officially topped the country, is still to provide a list of the top candidates as well as an analysis of the results. There have been delays this year after clear evidence of certain papers being available before the exam, but the Caribbean Examinations Council eventually released the results. Mattai's alma mater recorded 40 students obtaining five Grades One and above passes, the school's principal Gem Rohlehr said yesterday. Mattai's peers who excelled by each getting nine Grade Ones were Horace Cox, Ryan Dhanraj, Tamika Henry, Dwayne Kellman and Rebecca Ram. In an interview yesterday from her home in Barima Avenue, Bel Air Park, Mattai said the feat took a lot of hard work but that she had the support of her family. She said she had to work everyday, except for Saturday when she and her family would usually go out to dinner. Mattai said she did not have to give up anything since she had a strict timetable to facilitate all of her activities and in that way she was not overburdened. She intends to continue her studies in the sixth form at QC and write the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) and the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level examinations. She hopes to study Communications, Law and Literature at this stage. Mattai plans on pursuing law at the University of Guyana (UG) since she wants to be close to her family. She has a sister who had also done well at Queen's and who is now in her third year of law at UG. And she has a younger brother who has already made a name for himself by performing well at the Secondary School Entrance Examination (SSEE) some years ago. She said she enjoyed studying for French, Spanish, English A and B, Home Management and emphasised on the importance of paying attention in class and the need to cover work at home. Commenting on the delay for the release of the exam results, she was appalled that students would try to cheat by gaining access to the paper before the sitting. Mattai said she remained positive even though the waiting was frustrating. Her mother, Bharati Mattai said that all of the family members played a part in Kiran doing well. "We all chipped in; her sister helped her tremendously and her brother was patient." Her father, Harry Mattai, said Bharati probably played a bigger part in Kiran's success, since she would be "foot and foot" with her daughter's studies. Kiran is a trained Indian classical dancer and is also part of a Hindu youth group that does community work. She is thankful to God, her parents and all of her teachers for her success. She also thanked all of her friends for being supportive. Cox said he was overjoyed by the results. "I learnt of the results when I got the slip yesterday," he said. "I told my mother and she was elated for me; I also told my father and he was happy for me." Cox gained nine grade ones and two grade twos. He gained a double award for Agricultural Science. He said for now he is keeping his options open but would pursue his studies in the field of science. He is about to enrol in the sixth form of his alma mater. According to the young man, his parents encouraged him to do the subjects that he was most comfortable with. He said his success called for a lot of dedication and commitment. "I knew what I wanted from the inception. At times I had to change my way of life to make time for assignments, but then I had to create a balance for everything in my life." He said full CSEC preparation began in the fourth form and the grind started in fifth form. "We did not have a study group but when we had problems we consulted each other and solved those problems." The 16-year-old from 164 Middle Road, La Penitence said parental input was vital to his success: "My parents were always encouraging me and were eager to know my results." He said the delay in the issuing of the results was unfortunate. "My belief is that the ministry did what had to be done in the circumstances." Cox told Stabroek News that at no time during his stint in fifth form was there any absence of teachers for a subject. "We changed teachers for English because of the shortage, but we have to be grateful in the circumstances." Cox credits his success to God, his parents and his teachers, all of whom contributed in a significant way. Ram, sister of last year's top CSEC candidate Daniel Ram, wrote 11 subjects and gained nine grade ones and two grade twos. The 16-year-old from 64 East Lusignan, East Coast Demerara sat Mathematics, English A, English B, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Music, Information Technology, Spanish, History and Social Studies. Ram gained grade twos in Music and Social Studies. She said when she heard of the results she was happy and that she did not expect such a brilliant performance. Her father said: "I think that she was rewarded for her hard work. I am grateful to God and to the school. She committed herself to the task and we are happy for her." The young lady said that it took a lot of hard work and many sacrifices and that she had to cut back on certain things and had to "put everything into it." Ram intends to further her studies in sociology and the sciences. She also expressed an interest in medicine and psychiatry and hopes to go overseas to pursue these once she completes sixth form. Ram's mother and father are both doctors and she said that has influenced her a lot. Recounting her success, she said it came down to how much studying one does on one's own. But she said also it was important that one pays attention in class. "In my class we thrive on each other's success," she said. She added that she received help from her brother Daniel and her parents in terms of studying. "I don't think that I could have done it on my own... I thank God who has been extremely wonderful [to me]. "I would like to thank all of my teachers for their help," she said. Dhanraj, in addition to writing French and Spanish, wrote Technical Drawing and Geography for which he received grade ones. In total he gained nine grade ones and two grade twos. He gained twos in Spanish and Chemistry. Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday afternoon from his Garnett Street, Newtown home, Dhanraj, 17, said that he was happy with the results but was actually expecting more. His other subjects include Mathematics, English A and B, Information Technology, Physics and Biology. The Queen's College student said he studied really hard and did not get complacent. He expressed his thanks to God, his parents, teachers and siblings for the success that he achieved, even though he fell short of grade ones in the two subjects. He has two brothers and one sister, all older than he is. He plans - like his colleagues - to continue at the sixth form at his alma mater pursuing studies in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Mathematics, Computer Sciences and French. He said that when the times were down his parents, encouraged him to study. He said he had to sacrifice a lot of time and sleep in order to concentrate on his studies. He also had to play less cricket, which he loves. Henry also did well with nine grade ones and one grade two. She did not receive a grade for Food and Nutrition. Rohlehr said Henry passed French with a profile of all 'A's. Kellman gained nine grade ones and two grade twos with a double award for Agricultural Science. Rohlehr said it was important that students were writing foreign language subjects since passing those warrants prizes from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). She remembers Kiran as an outstanding student and that she had won a prize at a Caribbean spelling bee championship. She said Kiran has won trophies for her classical Indian dancing. Rohlehr said the school gained 100% passes in Agricultural Science and Integrated Science. Other students gaining eight and seven Grade Ones at Queen's College are, Ashmin John, Kristie Persaud, Zara Alli, Lakerajie Persaud, Ravina Ramessar, Vinod Rampersaud, Taije Rebeiro, Bibi Shaw, Tishani Singh and Cleveland Waddle. Bishops' High School produced four students who achieved grade ones in seven subject areas. Melinda Franklin got passes in 11 subjects including seven ones, Samantha Kissoon got 10 passes with seven grade ones, Natasha Yusuf got 10 passes with seven ones and Calvin Barker passed 11 subjects with seven ones. Franklin said she was pleased with her grades and excited to have passed since she expected to do well in some areas but not Chemistry and Physics for which she got grade twos. She chose the science stream because "I was not sure about a career and there are more options in that area." When asked how she did so well at the exam Franklin recalled that she put in a lot of hard work, prayed and received much needed guidance from her teachers who she described as the most dedicated people she knows. Her schedule: "Get to school early, study after school and early in the mornings. Usually around 4 am but closer to exam time it was sometimes 2 am and 3 am in the mornings." Now that she has crossed this initial step of her career, Franklin stated she would like to go on to Sixth Form most likely at Queens, before going on to read for a degree in Forensic Pathology. This Charlestown resident credits her grandmother Beulah Barrow and father Everall Franklin and all her friends for her success. Franklin who is now 17, attended St Agnes Primary before going to Bishops. Her grades are Agriculture Science (Double Award) I, Biology I, Chemistry II, English (A) I, English (B) I, French II, Geography II, Home Economics (Management) I, Integrated Science I, Mathematics II, and Physics II. Kissoon 16, is a lively individual who was the only one in the top four who was not in the science stream. She stated "I just hate Science and could not think of anything I like in Arts, so I did Business." Kissoon said she began to study hard about three months before the exam, "I gave myself time off to know everything by the time the exam came around." Additionally she took extra lessons in English, Mathematics, Spanish, Business and Information Technology. She said her teachers for Literature, History, and Social Studies ensured she was doing well in school so lessons were not necessary in those areas. Kissoon said her reason for taking additional lessons was to force herself to work, because, "I don't work at home... I just need the pressure." She would like to return to Bishops' to do her A-levels after which she wants to go on to become an accountant. An old student of St Agnes Primary, Kissoon singled out her parents Ramona and Joseph Kissoon, and every single teacher for her success. With distinctions in English 'A' and 'B', her grades were Caribbean History I, English (A) I, English (B) I, Mathematics II, Office Procedure I, Principles of Accounts I, Principles of Business I, Social Studies I and Spanish II. Yusuf was in the Science stream and her reasons for choosing that area were because it is the most challenging stream and she has a long-term interest in Science especially Biology. Yusuf who is now 15 said she succeeded through hard work, "I started studying about three weeks before the exam, which is bad, but I had to spend a lot of time doing my SBAs (School Based Assessment). So I studied up to about midnight every night. The SBA's were more draining than studying but helped in the examination. I spent a sleepless night doing my Chemistry SBA." She also attended lessons for Mathematics about which she said, "I had the best Maths teacher ever," and Chemistry lessons because of no permanent teacher being present at Bishops'. Yusuf's grades were: Agriculture Science (DA) II, Biography I (distinction), Chemistry II, English (A) I (distinction), English (B) I (distinction), French II, Integrated Science I (distinction), Mathematics I (distinction), Physics I, and Social Studies I. A resident of Enmore, she said "I applied to Queen's College for A-levels but have not decided on a career as yet," but she figures that she would definitely be doing something in Biology. The youngest of the high achievers, Yusuf said she would like to thank her family, Hemoutie and Zakeer Yusuf as well as her six-year-old brother, God, her friends and herself for her success. Barker, the only boy is already beginning to distinguish himself. The 17 year-old science wiz said he wants to build a bomb some day "but not to blow folks up" just so he could hear the boom. This is one reason why he chose the Science stream and because he would like to become a doctor. Barker said his parents Joylyn and Brian motivated him. His work schedule included going to Maths, Biography and Chemistry lessons, studying early in the morning from 4 am to 6 am and doing assignments and SBAs in the evenings. A old student of Eccles Primary, Barker said he wants to do the Sixth Form programme at Queens College before going on to pursue a career as either a neurologist, cardiologist, or paediatrician and a part-time computer analyst. Originating from Grove, Barker said he would tell youths coming up to work hard, and to do the SBAs to the best of their ability. He said he would credit his parents, teachers especially Ms. Harris, friend Kevon Fung-Khee for the competition and Priya and Adevi for their encouragement, with helping in his success. Barker's grades were: Agriculture Science (DA) I, Mathematics I, Social Studies I (distinction), English (A) I (distinction), English (B), Home Economics (Management) I (distinction), Physics II, Biology II, Chemistry III, Spanish III and Information Technology IV.