Girls top SEA achievers

Jemila said she had always wanted to attend Naparima Girls’.

Unable to contain her happiness yesterday, Jemila said she never had a problem studying and was very ecstatic about the result. Hugging and kissing her mother, Dianne Forde, 36, at their home at Brassia Drive, Orchid Gardens, Pleasantville yesterday, Jemila expressed her happiness.

“I am feeling like I am dreaming. In the last two years my teacher Ms Helen Dwarika never missed one day of class. Sacrificing is never a problem for me, once I put my mind to do something, I will do it,” Jemila said.

Her result slip stated she got 99 marks out of 100 in Mathematics, 98 out of 100 in English Language and 20 out of 20 in creative writing.

Jemila expressed gratitude for all the support she received during her studies. She noted that during the August vacation, last year, Dwarika conducted classes for the students. “Coming close to the examination we also had Saturday classes with Ms Dwarika. She always push us to do the best. My mother kept telling me to take my time and my father was there to keep me calm,” Jemila said smiling. Her next challenge is to become a forensic scientist.

However at present, Jemila said she is preparing a list of items for her parents to buy to celebrate her achievement.

“ I am still making my list. I probably want a nice cell phone, an ipod, shoes and clothes. I am also planning to hang out with some friends, ” she said.

Jemila lives with her mother who works in Port-of-Spain as a clerk/typist. Forde was elated when she found out her only child was one of the best in the country.

“ I am lost for words. First I have to also congratulate the other students. We did lots of praying and studying which has paid off in the end. Since Jemila was in First Year class she wanted to go Naps, ” Forde said. The single mother added that although Jemila almost got a perfect score based on her results sheet, she had not received any official comments from the Education Ministry regarding the highest score overall.

At her school located on Rushworth Street, San Fernando, the principal and staff members were elated over the performance of the 55 students who wrote the SEA examination.

Principal Lorna Ramsey boasted the school got a 100 percent pass rate and no student got under 30 percent.

“They did very well. The teachers and students worked hard and the parents have been supporting them,” Ramsey said.

Danielle was the other top SEA student at her school, Dayanand Memorial Vedic Primary in Penal. Principal Indira Birju-Daniel said her top student in the examination was Danielle who passed for Naparima Girls’. “We are very proud of her and this is a first for the school.”