The top performing students in this year’s 2024 May – June CXC and CAPE regional examinations were rewarded on Thursday night at a special awards ceremony in Saint Lucia.
The event celebrated fourteen students (one in absentia) hailing from Grenada, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
The students arrived in Saint Lucia on December 1, where they were hosted by the Government of Saint Lucia, in particular the Minister of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training Shawn Edward and Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre. The students also visited the Sulphur Springs, Pigeon Island National Landmark and various schools.
During the awards ceremony, students were recognised for their achievements in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) examinations.
CAPE awardees in attendance at the event were Alexei Aqui, St Joseph’s Convent Trinidad and Tobago – Most Outstanding Candidate in Environmental Science, Khadine Rambert, Holy Faith Convent, Trinidad and Tobago – Most Outstanding Candidate in Information & Communication Technology and Noella Brown, Montego Bay Community College, Jamaica – Most Outstanding Candidate in Humanities.
Charlotte Hadeed of St Joseph’s Convent, Trinidad and Tobago won the award for Most Outstanding Candidate in Business Studies. However, she was unable to attend.
The top performers in CSEC examinations in attendance were Chitra Parbhu, Saraswati Vidya Niketan School, Guyana – Most Outstanding Candidate in Sciences; Asiyah Karim, I.S.A. Islamic School, Guyana – Most Outstanding Candidate in Business; Venisha Lall, Anna Regina Secondary School, Guyana – Most Outstanding Candidate in Technical & Vocational; Nataliah Castillo, St Joseph’s Convent, Trinidad and Tobago – Most Outstanding Short Story; Abigail Ramdhanie, Bishop Anstey High School, Trinidad And Tobago – Most Outstanding Candidate in Visual Arts (2D); Rizwana Abdool, A.S.J.A. Girls’ College, Trinidad and Tobago – Most Outstanding Candidate in Visual Arts (3D); Rishav Persad, Naparima College, Trinidad and Tobago – Most Outstanding Candidate in Principles of Accounts and Shanoya Morgan, St Andrew High School for Girls, Jamaica – Most Outstanding Candidate in History.
The Most Outstanding students in CCSLC examinations hail from Grenada; Most Outstanding male- Yêshûwa Douglas of Presentation Brothers College and Most Outstanding female, Udia McKay of St Mark’s Secondary School.
Special awardees announced included Most Outstanding Candidate in CAPE Mathematics – Vishal Pooran, Presentation College, Trinidad, Most Outstanding Candidate in CAPE History Nicholas Abreu, Our Lady of Fatima College, Trinidad, Most Outstanding Candidate in CSEC Agricultural Science
(Double Award), Carlana Alexander, St Rose’s High School, Guyana and Most Outstanding Candidate in CSEC Geography Zaria Ifill, St Joseph’s Convent – Trinidad.
This year’s Most Outstanding Candidates overall in CAPE and CSEC examinations, Aniyah Couchman and Dave Chowtie, respectively, both hail from Queen’s College, Guyana.
The students also received awards for Most Outstanding performance in Natural Sciences and Humanities, respectively. Aniyah achieved Grade I in 20 subjects and Grade II and Grade III in one subject each. Dave achieved Grade I in 25 subjects and Grade II in 4 subjects.
Shawn Edward, in his remarks welcomed the awardees and CXC officials and encouraged them to take a moment to experience; “Saint Lucia’s charm through its breathtaking landscape, vibrant culture and exceptionally warm hospitality”.
“This evening we celebrate not only the remarkable achievements of our outstanding students in the Caribbean but also recognize the collective efforts of all those who have supported them on their journey,” Edward said. He went on to remind the students that achievements was testament to their hard work, discipline and unyielding commitment to excellence.
For his part Dr. Wayne Wesley Registrar and CEO of CXC said that CXC was advancing an AI Policy and tools to assist in capturing a wider critical mass of successful students across the regiona. “All educators must master the use of this AI tool to achieve quantum leaps in the education system,” Wesley pointed out.
In delivering the feature address, Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre said that judging from the line of questioning that he received when he met the students earlier there were future leaders among them.
“We are immensely proud of your achievements, your region is proud of you, your country is proud of you, your teachers are proud of you, your communities are proud of you and undoubtedly your friends, family and parents are exceedingly proud,” Pierre said.
Each year, the CXC awards is hosted in one of the CXC participating countries and the activities serves as an opportunity for the students’ individual enrichment, cultural exchange and for the students to build friendships with each other.
