Sixteen-year-old Yana-Marisa Edwards of Queen’s College has been named the country’s top Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) student.
Yana-Marisa Edwards
An Education Ministry source yesterday confirmed that Edwards is the nation’s top student. The source noted said that at a press conference to present results through the media, Minister of Education Shaik Baksh had given a list of names of students who were vying for the top spot; but had said that the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) had not yet determined the top CSEC student. The media had reported that unofficially Rahul Nehaul Lall was the top CSEC student, since he had received the most grade ones on the list that was provided.
However, Stabroek News understands that Edwards with 14 grade ones and one grade two is in fact the top student. What give her the edge over Lall was her distinctions in two foreign languages: French and Spanish and a double major in Agricultural Science. Her only grade two was in Music.
Stabroek News caught up with the young lady at her school sports yesterday. “I was satisfied with the grades I got but the news made me feel elated,” Edwards said referring to being officially named the top student.
Talking about her tutelage at Queen’s College Edwards said the school goes beyond the ordinary curriculum. “They teach us integrity; self preservation… takes you beyond work and into life itself.”
Edwards said she believed her success was due to a process, which started since first form or even before that. It involved giving up a lot and making a special sacrifice. “And even now CXC is not the end but another beginning,” she said.
She plans to continue in sixth form and do A-levels.
The daughter of physician Dr Morris Edwards and Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, the 16-year-old plans to follow in her father’s footsteps and study medicine. “I have a lot of time to change my mind though,” she said smiling.
Exams results were issued in Guyana on August 21, several days after they were released in other Caribbean territories. When the results were read to the media at a press conference, the exam slips had not yet arrived to be distributed to schools. Baksh had at the time stated his displeasure at the council’s “slothfulness.”
CXC had then reported that an overall two per cent increase in candidates’ performance at the CSEC examinations throughout the region was recorded this year. A press release from the council had said that 62 per cent of the 563,302 entries received acceptable grades.
Knowing the parents of this wonderful child, I think such performance was expected and great things will be expected of her.
It’s amazing how the Ministry works.Is there anything like an official criteria for the top student?Were the tables turned I wonder if Lall would have been re-named the top student?
The same happened last year when, out of the blues, there was a distinction between Senior secondary top student and junior sec top std.
Does QC always have to be the top?
Too bad this talent will not benefit the country in the near futher? Like the rest of our scholars, her talents will be utilized elsewhere. Sad to say!!!!
Wow! You go girl! I can just imagine how proud your parents are…..Perserverance and determination surely brought you, your attainment…..
Congrats!
Well done! I’m proud of you. I am helping my 8 years old daughter doing a cultural paper for her school when i came across of your amazing performance on your C.X.C results. Keep going after your dream. I am from the corentyne.
Of COURSE!
Silly question. QC has always been, and shall continue to be on TOP!!!!!
editor is this the top student for this year or last year or is it kia persaud…
Moderator’s note: This is the story on last year’s results.
Marrisa, congratulations.You have made your parents proud and you have made the nation proud.Just remain focused and your dreams will be at your door step.
Congrats equally to your parents .
I commend this young lady, but must express disappointment at the Ministry of Education which erroneously declared Lall as the top student.
Moderator’s note: Ministry did not declare him to be top student. It said he was one of a number that would be in the running. The media reported that he had the most grade ones.
I congratulate ms. edward on her top performance at the csec examination and wish her all the best in her academic studies. It good to see an african guyanese student at the top of the pack, much kudos to her parents for the sacrifice they made for her.
Learn to look beyond race and see her for what she is, a member of the human race.
Indeed why does race have to come into the equation.
Come on, It is precedent that the student with the most grade 1’s gets the top spot. Distinctions are used as a tie-breaker. This is unprecedented, the only reason why students are writing 15 subjects is to get the top spot. Lall must be disappointed.
GOG needs to publish the criteria for the top spot. They need to let students know so they can set goals for themselves.
I remember Marisa when she was named the most outstanding student at the Common Entrance Exam, in that her mother’s name was mentioned in the article.
No surprises here.
I completely agree with GY2008 comment. There needs to be a fixed set of criterion for determining the best students. I wonder what CXC uses as their determinant in awarding the most outstanding student in the Caribbean.
Congratulations to you & your parents. I hope this serves as an inspiration to other young Guyanese especially those who may not have the same parental guidance.
Congratulations Marisa. Let’s start grooming her to become President
comgratulation marisa, since shocked wants you to be groomed as a future president, then to be a good president you will have to join forces with the present goverment, once again congrats on your future endevors.
YES !!!!! LET’S GROOM HER FOR THE PRESIDENCY. WHAT A CHANGE THAT WILL BE.
Congratulations, ms edward I am so happy for yopu, keep it up.
congratulations to MARISA. thank the LORD,your teachers and parents.don’t let us sour this thing by making it a race thing.this is not good for the children.i thank the minister of education for his efforts in the education ministry and also his party.you need to do much more though.MARISA must get a big, big,big gift from the government.
Congrads Miss.Edwards, u have done Guyana well an most importantly QC.
amen-ra— I don’t appreciate u have to come to a level to say African Guyanese…..This young lady is a Guyanese NOT african Guyanese—–
well she’s a guyanese of african ancestry and you cant deny that, do you know how i feel when i see only other ethnic groups excel, so i’m proud of her you can say what you want.