Future pilot, scientists among Winfer Gardens tops
Four pupils from the Winfer Garden Primary School were among some of the most outstanding students at the Secondary Schools Entrance Examination (SSEE). Troy Jeeboo, 11, of 22 Callendar Street, Albouystown; Dara Bobb-Semple, 11, of Lot 2 D'Urban Street, Lodge; Tony Madray, 11, of 14 Cane Street, Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara; and Roger Munroe, 12, of 335 East Street, South Cummingsburg scored the highest marks in their school. Jeeboo achieved a score of 543 out of 560 and has gained a place at Queen's College. He topped the school and expressed joy about his performance. "I am very happy with my results, I have always wanted to attend that school and now one of my dreams has come true," he said. His sister, Karishma Jeeboo, is a sixth form student of his new school and he said that she, along with his parents, inspired him to achieve his dream school. The 11-year-old wants to become a pilot and said that this is so because he likes to travel to other countries and the first time he entered an aeroplane, he loved the feeling and wanted to do it again. "At first I wanted to become a businessman, like my father, but the first time I entered an aeroplane I had this overwhelming feeling that this was what I wanted to live for and I loved the feeling," he said. He said that he took extra lessons, which helped him and expressed thanks to his teacher, tutors, parents and sister. He said he found the exam very easy, but for Social Studies, which was a wee bit difficult. Maths, which is his favourite subject he found very easy. Bobb-Semple gained 540 marks at the exam and also achieved a place at Queen's College. She has aspirations of becoming a scientist and said that she got inspiration for her future career after reading a biography entitled George Washington-Carver. "I read the book and found it very exciting and I just want to be a scientist," she said enthusiastically. She said that she had a pleasant surprise when she found out that she had done so well. She said that her parents and relatives had all of her gratitude since it was their effort that made her succeed. "They were behind me all the way and they had the confidence in me, well they had more confidence than I did. My teachers were also very helpful and behind me every step of the way." Bobb-Semple's impression of the exam was that it was "not very easy and it was not very hard." But she noted like Jeeboo that Social Studies was a bit difficult, while mathematics was a walkover. Madray achieved a score of 532 and gained a place at Queen's College along with Bobb-Semple and Jeeboo. He also has a dream of becoming a scientist but noted that things did not often turn out as one would want them to. He said that he wanted to become a scientist because he wanted to invent machinery and if it was God's will for him to be a scientist then he would become one. Madray said that he had always wanted to go to Queen's College, but was very surprised when he achieved his dream school. He said that this was so because he though that he had not done well at the exam. Like Jeeboo and Bobb-Semple he found Maths easy and Social Studies difficult. Madray thanked his parents for their support and his teachers for sharing their knowledge with him. Munroe achieved 514 marks and gained a place at the St Roses' High School. He said he was very proud of his performance, but had not expected to do so well because while sitting the exam he found some of the subjects difficult. The 12-year-old said that he had wanted to go to St Stanislaus College, but was happy with his place St Roses'. Unlike Jeeboo, Madray and Bobb-Semple, Munroe said that the hardest subject for him was Mathematics while English was the easiest. Munroe who wants to become an architect said that this is so because for as long as he can remember he loved to draw and construct things. He, too, expressed thanks to his mother, father, siblings and teachers. Munroe also went to extra lessons and said that they were a great help in his exams. In an invited comment about the performance of her students, headmistress, Kewattie Persaud, said that their overall performance was good considering the constraints they were faced with. She stated that the recent protests had had a very negative impact on the children, psychologically. She said that another factor that hindered the performance of her students was that of overcrowded classrooms. She explained that the school was a small building into which 871 children were crammed. Much more could have been achieved, she said, if the children had not been so crammed. However, she said, they were trying to improve things and were receiving support from the Ministry of Education and parents. "I am hoping that by the new school year, the school would have adequate spacing and the general performance at the exam will be better," she said. 
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