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Monica Bodden was at the event:

Monica Bodden Reporting:

25 students were awarded this morning for their outstanding achievement in this year's Primary School Examination. Out of the six thousand, nine hundred and sixty two students who sat the exam, these 25 scored the highest countrywide.

Arlette Gomez - Information Officer, Ministry of Education
"We are honoring the top 25 students in the country that sat and passed the PSE, and we are also honoring the top 10 for the Belize District this morning. We have a wide cross-section. We have from Orange Walk, from the Belize District, and we have from the Cayo District in the top 25 this morning."

The students were issued with certificates of excellence and prizes from the Ministry of Education.

Arlette Gomez
"The person that ranked 1st, Aliyah Marin; she gets a full scholarship to the high school that she's attending. She gets a laptop and a printer; she gets a thousand dollars cash, and the Jane and Michael Nembhard Award. That's what she gets for the first prize. For 2nd prize, it's a laptop and a 4-year $300 book scholarship for 1st and 2nd place in the country. That's what they're receiving today. All of the other persons in the top 25 receive a 4-year $300 books scholarship too."

The highest scorer on the exam was Aliyah Marin, a student of Holy Redeemer School. Second place went to Jusette Magan of Evergreen United in Belmopan, and third place was Jordan Murillo of Belize Elementary.

Aliyah Marin - First Place, PSE
"I feel very proud of myself, for having accomplished such a great goal that I set for myself. They work started from beginners, but the actual work started from this school year. I went to all my extra classes, and I prepared myself well on my own."

Marlene Marin - Mother
"I really didn't think that District Education would have really awarded her with so many different awards. So I'm kind of overwhelmed."

Ervin Marin - Father
"I'm very proud of her also; she did a great job. I want to thank the school - Holy Redeemer School - for providing the support for her."

Marlene Marin - Mother
"As her mom, I have really been there for Aliyah from the beginning. From pre-school, I am a stay-at-home mom; I really spend a lot of time with my children on a daily basis doing school work with them. I have 3 girls and there all bright girls. I spend a lot of time with my children."

Jusette Magan - 2nd place, PSE
"I am really proud; I didn't expect it. It was just really great."

Monica Bodden
"Now you ranked 2nd place country, what an accomplishment. How hard work you had to put in to actually accomplish such?"

Jusette Magan
"It took a lot of hard work, focus and dedication. We had extra classes, and I had help from tutors, my teachers, and my family."

Monica Bodden
"Would you've imagined ranking so high?"

Jusette Magan
"No, I really did not expect it."

Dorette Dennison - Mother
"She has worked hard, not just at standard 6, because as you know, Monica, PSE doesn't start at standard 6. PSE starts from the beginning, so from the beginning we have been there guiding Jusette, providing the environment, supporting her, supporting the school, going to school, learning who the teachers are, checking homework, project. Everything, we have been there as parents. So it's important that parents be there; it's important."

Jordan Murillo - 3rd Place, PSE
"A family member called us, and congradulated me, and I asked him for what. He told me that I came in 3rd for PSE, I was excited and proud of myself."

Monica Bodden
"Now, would you have imagined ranking so high on PSE?"

Jordan Murillo
"No, I always expected to do okay and do well, but not to come in 3rd in the whole country."

Monica Bodden
"How much work did you have to put it, for such an accomplishment?"

Jordan Murillo
"I studied hard, prepared well, and I just tried my best."

Julian Murillo - Father
"The achievement is his. As a parent, the most you can do is really provide a good environment for them to work, keep encouraging them. There are always bumps along the road, making sure they keep their chin up, making sure they keep focused. In 12, 13 and 14 year-olds, there are lots of distractions, and the road is really to keep them on that path where they can see the future ahead of them and understand how important success is."

And while the Ministry of Education has recognized these outstanding students who have done well on the PSE, they are also mindful of the work that still needs to be done in primary schools.

Arlette Gomez - Information Officer, Ministry of Education
"From what I understand from the people at the Exams Unit, it has been confirmed from the inception of this examination in 2000, it has a constant with the results. It has been basically on the same level; that's what we understand. We do understand that Math and English have posed to be a problem, and the Ministry is working on that. We're having summer classes, for those students who will be going into standard 6 this year country-wide, to attend Math and English classes."

Tomorrow at 10, District Awards will be held by in the Northern, Western and Southern Zones.