Cane End Government School student cops third

Eleven-year-old Elzicho Debique of the Cane End Government School has been described as a perfectionist and a hard worker. DeBique placed third in the recently concluded Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) with an overall average of 95.20.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT from the school in Cane End, the overjoyed pupil said he is happy to have done so well after competing against so many persons.{{more}}

“You feel … that you would not make it, or high in the competition. But when you do make it that high, you feel so happy.”

He noted that while he is pleased with his grades, he still expected to do better.

Debique, who is also president of the school’s student council noted that hard work was the key to his success.

“I worked hard, I took extra classes and I did practice on my own,” he noted.

The Montaque Village resident noted that most of his family members, while elated about his success, weren’t very surprised.

The lad, who intends to attend the St Vincent Grammar School in September has plans of becoming a doctor some day.

He said while at the Grammar School, he will continue his hard work and “become friends with teachers.”

Elzicho’s mother, Petra Burnette Debique disclosed that she always expected her son to place among the top five.

“I was just excited and happy…but as to saying I wasn’t expecting him to come there, my hope was right there.”

She described her son as always being focused and a go getter. She said he never has to be forced to do his school work.

“He is just who he is. He’s believes in perfection. Whatever he does, he wants it to be perfect.”

Class teacher Shereese Peters told SEARCHLIGHT that Debique’s exceptional performance was expected.

“From the time I came to this school…I have seen his performance, his ability and I expected that,” she said.

Rouna Burke, another of Elzicho’s teachers noted he was a all-round good worker, but was exceptional in Language Arts.

“When he is called upon to express himself on the spur of the moment, he would just express himself and you would wonder where he got those words from,” she stated.

Burke pointed out jokingly that Debique’s greatest fear was having a girl do better than him in the exam.

“He didn’t want any girl to beat him in common entrance. He say he would die if any girl beat him.”

Principal of the school Ave Weeks-Stephens said that Debique has maintained the top position since he entered Grade one.

She pointed out that about half of Elzicho’s Grade one class was reading below their grade level, so a remedial programme was initiated.

That same Grade one class received a 100 per cent pass rate, up two per cent from last year.(CM)