Venezuelan student is West Coast school’s top NGSA performer

A Venezuelan student who attended Crane Primary School is among the top ten National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) performers for Region Three.

The Ministry of Education on Saturday said Emily Vaamonde-Beria copped 515 marks at this year’s NGSA, emerging as the top student at the Crane Primary School, West Coast of Demerara (WCD). She has been awarded a place at Queen’s College as a result.

According to a Ministry release, the 12-year-old, whose parents are Guyanese, is Venezuelan by birth and moved to Guyana in 2018 along with her parents and younger sibling. Her only exposure to the English language before her migration was through her parents. However she quickly adjusted and even became a translator for other students like herself. “It was a bit hard with the language barrier and to understand some of the subjects,” she said. She also said that she expected to do well but she was surprised at her placing among the top performers.

“I feel very happy that I could’ve done so well. It was my expectation, but I did not expect to do so well,” Emily said after learning of her results in October.

Her father, Brayan Vaamande, said, “We are very proud and happy. We know we would have done good because we always give her the support and encourage her to work very hard in her education.” Vashti Paul, head teacher of Crane Primary School, on the West Coast of Demerara, said that Emily became the student that teachers would ask to communicate with other Venezuelan students. She added that the student was always happy to assist.

“She excels at everything she embarks upon, intentionally or unintentionally. She is self-confident and self-motivated. She is a well-rounded pupil, involved in academic as well as co-curricular activities. Throughout her years at the Crane Primary School, she has always been the pupil that achieves the highest percentage in her class,” the teacher was quoted as saying.

The student, who shares the sixth place spot in Region Three with Yushini Kumar of Genesis Early Childhood, said that she wants to become a lawyer to assist other migrants with relocating to the country. She has obtained her citizenship and said “I would like to be a lawyer to help people like me, fight for their freedom and justice; some are awaiting their citizenship while some are waiting to get into schools.”

The Ministry of Education in June 2021 established its Risk Management and Migrant Support Section (RM&MSS) to help students who migrate to Guyana. The Unit is