P6 exams 2019: Gabriella Havelock ranked 1st nationally |17 August 2020

The top three students: (L to r) Gabriella Havelock, Renée Bastienne and Anella D’Unienville (Photo: Anel Robert)

Gabriella Havelock from Perseverance primary came out first with 516 points for the P6 National Exams of 2019.

Anella D’Unienville from Baie Ste Anne took the second place with 514 points and Renée Bastienne from La Misère took the third place with 513 points.

Nineteen other students were rewarded for their outstanding performance in a restricted awarded ceremony held at the Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education (Site) Mont Fleuri last Friday morning.

The event was attended by the Minister for Education & Human Resource Development, Jeanne Simeon; principal secretaries Odile De Commarmond and Linda Barallon; directors generals; the senior management staff and parents.

After the ceremony, Gabriella Havelock shared her sentiments with the press: “I thought I was fighting a losing battle. But with the encouragement of my family, I kept studying. I am happy that all my hard work paid off. Though I am still young, I understood that education is the way to success. This award will definitely push me to go forward and my favourite subject is science. I will tell my friends to keep focusing on their studies and be good!”

Her mother, Chantale Havelock, and dad Terry were both proud of the success of their only child. “We accompanied her all the way through. But Gabriella is also a good child and focused. We need to be there to support her. As she grew she developed her own way of study. We believe that families do play a role in the success of their children and they have to be part of the journey.”

The director general for Early Childhood and Primary Education, Cyril Pillay, noted that “through primary schooling, the ministry does not only aspire to provide learners with a fit-for purpose opportunity to demonstrate what they know: but we equally ensure that learners are provided with the skills to enhance what they already know. Schools, through their mandate should spare no effort to stimulate curiosity in our young, impressionable minds and provide them with the building blocks necessary for excellence”.

Addressing the young learners, Mr Pillay also noted: “You must take responsibility for your own learning; this will prepare you for the unexpected and your future.”

All the awarded students received a certificate and a token from the ministry and the top three received a shield.

Vidya Gappy

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