Eighteen-year-old Queen’s College (QC) student, Jonelle James, is this year’s top performer at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).
James, the daughter of Guyana Defence Force Colonel Sydney James, gained five grade ones, in Biology, Caribbean Studies, Chemistry, Food and Nutrition and Pure Mathematics.
QC also produced several others top achievers, among them, Navindra Baldeo (four Grade Ones, one Grade Three); Christopher Chinnatambi (four Grade Ones, two Grade Twos); Kelly-Ann Persaud (four Grade Ones, one Grade Two); Melodie Lowe (four Grade Ones, one Grade Two); and Raphael Bascom (four Grade Ones, one Grade Two).
Of 17 other top performers who each obtained three Grade One passes, three are from QC; three from The Bishops’ High School; three from St. Rose’s High and one apiece from President’s College and the Adult Education Association.
Females reportedly accounted for 60.7 percent of those who passed.
Other schools presenting candidates were Mackenzie High; New Amsterdam Multilateral; St. Stanislaus College; Mae’s Secondary and St. Joseph’s High.
During a press conference yesterday morning, Education Minister Priya Manickchand revealed that Guyana has registered a pass rate of 86.2 percent as against 82.5 in 2011. A total of 740 students wrote the exams in May at ten examination centres.
The Minister added that while there was a smaller number of students (627) that went up for the examination last year, writing a total of two thousand, five hundred and fifty-one (2,571) subjects, on this occasion, three thousand and thirty-four (3,034) subjects were written, and despite this, the pass rate percentage was able to climb.
Minister Manickchand explained that the overall performance in 2012, as compared to previous years, provides a much better report. She gave the respective figures to confirm this.
It was also noted that CXC results are likely to be released by tomorrow.
Top Performers …..
Jonelle James -This young lady is no stranger to being in the spotlight. She was a top performer two years ago at the CXC examinations. Relatives in Guyana broke the news to James who is presently on vacation in the United States.
Navindra Baldeo expressed surprise at being among the top students.
“I’m very surprised and a bit excited” Baldeo told Kaieteur News. He said that his preparation for the exam started months before. He recounted that he also took extra lessons and his friends, teachers and parents played a major part in his success. His future ambition is to become a doctor. He also disclosed that he has a scholarship to the University of the West Indies.
Christopher Chinnatambi also said he was very excited and quite pleased with his results. “I studied for hours….I had to do it in a very disciplined way” he told Kaieteur News. He intends to further his studies at the University of Guyana. He would like to become a chemical engineer or cardiologist.
Melodie Lowe was thrilled and obviously satisfied with her results. She said that she loves to read and that is one of the major things which helped her. Lowe said that she also took extra lessons to help in her weak areas. She intends to follow a career in medicine.
Source:By Latoya Giles; https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2012/08/09/qcs-jonelle-james-tops-cape/