Dear Editor,
Let me congratulate the Region 9’s top student, Kyle Joseph of Aishalton, who got 557 marks which placed him17th in the country overall. I wish Kyle all the best at Queen’s College.
Even though Yupukari Primary School has not produced a ‘Kyle’ for Queen’s as yet, it has come a very long way. It began to produce potential students in the early ’70s under the tutelage of Ms Waveney Dryden of Buxton, East Coast Demerara. In 1973, three out of a total of four, namely the late Dolly Lawerence, Kenrick Blades (nephew of Ms Dryden) and the author of this article, passed the then Common Entrance Examination. They all made it to St Ignatius Secondary School. Yupukari also produced another three in the late ’70s who were also placed at St Ignatius. From then on there were fewer passes until last year when four students passed their Grade 6 assessment.
Several years prior to that a wonderful American woman named Alice Taylor began to build up the Yupukari literacy programme. With the help of the villagers she built libraries for primary and kindergarten schools, and a public library. She also set up an internet service (and a website-www.rupununilearners.org) where students could do their research for their assignments. One librarian whom I communicated with told me that they helped last year’s students which was one of the reasons they passed their exams.
The resources mentioned above certainly had an effect on this year’s students because out of fourteen students who sat the exam, ten passed. An annex school, Quatata primary, which opened its door last year produced four. Congratulations to the following Yupukari and Quatata students and their parents:
Junior Andrew, son of Ralph and Ann Andrew; Jeriana Clarles, daughter of Doanthon and Lynette Charles; Shirin Duncan, daughter of Brian and Catherine Duncan; Elvira Hannibal, daughter of Arthenus and Sandra Hannibal; Lauwana Laurindo, daughter of Andy and Elaine Laurindo; Ralence Andre, son of Royal and Erina Andre; Hernandes Dorrick, son of Joseph and Ingrid Dorrick; Donette Moses, daughter of Alma and James Moses; Vladamir Lawerence, son of Bernard and Orsima Lawerence; Lucily Dorrick, daughter of Oscar and Zita Dorrick; Natile Dorrick, son of John and Celina Dorrick; Wavney Joaquim, daughter of Olivia and Michael Joaquim; Merlyn Charles, daughter of Ureal and Yenette Charles; and Johnny Dorrick, son of Johnsmith and Florine Dorrick.
Katoka, which opened in the ’80s, this year produced four as opposed to five the year before. Congrats to the following students and their parents:
Nimorood Park, son of Lenin and Caslene Park; Marvil Laurindo, son of Mersil and Sandra Laurindo; Angenita Alvin, daughter of Kevin and Ceceline Alvin; and Mary Michael, daughter of Darlene and Desmond Michael (Touchau).
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate last year’s students and their parents of Katoka: Ram Gregory, son of Judith and Riley Gregory (acting headteacher); Voudenescia Anton, daughter of Carl and Lavinia Anton; Farzia Campbell, daughter of Kenrick and Terpina Campbell; Dave Marco, son of Alvia and Jeff Marco (health worker/malaria microscopist); and Laureen Marco daughter of Gibson and Loretta Marco (headteacher, kindergarten).
I wish all the students and parents hard work and success.
Yours faithfully,
Guy Marco
For information – for decades the smaller villages(Katoka/Quatata/Simoni)around Yupukari not only came under its administration( Village Council) but it schooled the children of those villages. Each village was represented by a councillor. Katoka became an independent village in 2006.
Another information I would like to point out here, especially for the younger generation, is that Yupukari served as a ‘port’ for the then Rupununi District (now Rupununi region/region 9)- mainly its administration center (Lethem). Boats would go through Essequibo and then Rupununi (at Apetori) and stop at Yupukari where the cargo would then be taken to Lethem by horse drawn carts. There was a ‘landing’ specially done for the carts – Talalang Pay-yza-ki (cart landing).
Congratualtions to Kyle Joseph of Aishalton. It is hoped that other hinterland students aim to emulate him.
Nappi Village in the North Rupununi also has a history of producing outstanding common entrance scholars who wen on to attend the top secondary schools inthe country. These include the Abraham Family of Bonita Abraham -QC (8th in the country), Alaric & John Abraham – QC, Michael Abraham – (Bishops), Divina and Anna Abraham (St Rose’s), Michella Abraham (Saints), Miranda George(QC), Egbert Fredericks (Saints)et al. For a small Amerindian village of approx 500 persons (with the most basic of teaching facilties) this is a very telling statistic.
It is argued that it wasn’t the education system but the educator, Mr Michael Abraham Snr, who made such a success out of those students.