Even though Rebecca Ann Jattan was confident of doing well at this year's Secondary Examination Assessment (SEA) it came as a surprise to her yesterday when it was announced she topped the examination. Rebecca, who attends Canaan Presbyterian School, Duncan Village, San Fernando, gave her school something to celebrate. She achieved the maximum score in all three subjects. This is first time a pupil of the school, which has been in existence since the 19th-century, has ever won such an accolade. Education Minister Tim Gopeesingh visited the school at the beginning of the school day to tell Jattan of her success.
The announcement caused an eruption of applause throughout the hall where Rebecca's parents and other Standard Five pupils assembled in anticipation of Gopeesingh's comments. He lauded the pupils for their efforts and urged them to stay focused as they entered secondary school. Rebecca was so humble she had to be asked to stand up so she could be recognised. She had to do better than approximately 17,800 other children to claim first place. She got up with her eyes a bit misty and had to be coaxed into smiling for cameras. Two other students from the school-Lane Amichan and Maiya Cooper-also placed in the top 200 students of SEA 2012. Rebecca is very excited to start secondary school at Naparima Girls' College, San Fernando.
She said she was looking forward to having a bit of down time during the July/August holidays. "My family and I will be going away to America. When I come back I guess I will spend sometime with my friends and family," she said to reporters after the function. She said she was very excited to begin secondary school and added it had been a long journey on the way to accomplishing her goal. "It was very stressful but with family and friends I got through and, of course, with God," she added. There was a more festive atmosphere at Atwell's Educational Centre, Orange Grove Road, Tacarigua, as this was the first time that someone had placed second in the private school's history. Shemiah Grant said she was "excited and joyous" when she received the news and added she was not surprised she did well. The 11-year-old described the lead-up to the exam as a bit strenuous, saying it was exhausting and tiring but well worth it in the end. Principal of the school, Helen Atwell-Koo, said the school had been successful in previous years. She said they were in the process of planning something special to celebrate Grant's success.