11-year-old St Thomas student scores Grade 2 in CSEC English

AT JUST 11 years old, St Thomas’ Kemuel Brown has already accomplished what many hope for at the end of their high-school journey – a pass in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams.

The brilliant youngster earned a Grade 2 in English A this year while in grade six at Morant Bay Primary School, under the tutelage of his mother and vice principal of the institution, Devmarie Blake-Brown.

The feat is impressive, particularly as he was preparing for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) at the same time.

Kemuel said his mother introduced him to English early and he found the subject “fun and easy”.

He noted that in preparation for PEP, he would attend Saturday classes at Christ Chapel Evening Institute in Morant Bay, which ended just when his mother would begin tutoring CSEC English to students much older than himself.

The former head boy recalled that she asked if he would like to join the classes and sit the exam and, “I said yes. I wasn’t really nervous at all because I practised and I was ready for it”.

When months of preparation were finally put to the test and Kemuel began to write his paper, it was only then that he felt some nervousness, but he kept his focus and told himself that he would do well.

Upon receiving his results, he admits to feeling “disappointed but happy” as he had wanted wanted a grade one.

His family, friends and well-wishers were filled with immense pride at his achievement.

“They were saying that they were so proud of me and the fact is some people that are older than me [did not do as well]. As an 11-year-old child, to get a range 2 and be in grade six, they were like ‘Wow, that’s a big achievement’,” Kemuel recalled.

No stranger to big achievements, some of the youngster’s accolades include Best Junior Writer in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Creative Writing Competition; winner of the Ministry of Education and Youth’s Region 2 Literacy Unit Essay Competition; and a contributor to The Gleaner’s ‘Best in Class’ publication.

Kemuel is now a first-form student at the St George’s College and although he wakes up as early as 4 a.m.every day to get ready for the journey into Kingston, he said that he has been enjoying the experience.

“It has been very great. I really enjoy my school and it is one of the best experiences I could ever have. I love my teachers and I love the food. The school is very big and the friends I made are also very smart. The school, in general, is just great,” he said.

It could be said that excellence is a family trait as Kemuel’s father, Jody Brown, who is also an educator, was the Lasco Teacher of the Year for 2022.

“My goal is to become better than my father, my mother and everybody else in my family. I want to achieve something extraordinary, something that is almost impossible to get without tough practise and dedication and work,” Kemuel said.

His career path remains undecided, but he enjoys drawing, reading, playing games and sports. He is grateful to the 100-year-old Morant Bay Primary School for its cadre of brilliant teachers and for helping to develop his leadership skills.

A Christian, Kemuel said he never forgets to pray in all things, and he is guided by the mantra: ‘With God, nothing is impossible’.

“I’m striving to be the greatest there is. I’m trying to be the best, not just in Jamaica but all over the world so that I can stand out,” he said.