After threats of legal action, Ameerah Beekhoo and Aaron Subero will be jointly recognised as the top SEA students for 2020 and receive the President’s gold medal for their achievement.
The Ministry of Education announced its decision to recognise Beekhoo and Subero as the top scorers in the 2020 exam in a release on Saturday and said both students will receive the President’s Medal (gold) during a ceremony on Monday.
The release also announced St Gabriel’s Girls RC student Mercedes David and Trinidad Renaissance School student Anjanaa Dan Trinidad Renaissance School will each receive the President’s Medal (silver). David is also a new honouree, as Dan was originally the only student who placed second in 2020.
On Saturday, Subero’s mother Natasha De Coteau-Subero told Sunday Newsday, “I am pleased that he is at least going to get the recognition for his hard work and I am happy were able to find a solution.”
De Coteau-Subero said the family will no longer pursue legal action against the ministry and said the outcome was the best for the both children.
When Sunday Newsday spoke to Subero on Saturday, he had just finished winning a junior tennis tournament.
He said, “I appreciate that we will both be recognised for our achievements and I’m happy that my hard work paid off. “
Subero, who attends Fatima College, won his opening two matches in the boys Under-14 singles category at the RBC Junior Tennis tournament at Trinidad Country Club in Maraval, on Saturday.
He won his first match 5-4, 4-2 and followed up with a 4-1, 4-2 victory. Subero will be aiming to win his category in the tournament which ends on Thursday.
Beekhoo’s father Dr Nickelson Beekhoo on Saturday said his family will also not move forward with any legal action as they were also pleased with the outcome.
He explained the family considered legal action not because of the award but to expresss their displeasure with the manner in which the mixup occurred.
He said at no point was the family told his daughter’s placement was under review due to Subero’s results being queried.
[caption id="attachment_949053" align="alignnone" width="681"] In this file photo Ameerah Beekhoo, as a student of San Fernando TML School, celebrates her success the top performer in the 2020 SEA exam. -[/caption]
Given both Beekhoo, who attends Naparima Girls’ High School, and Subero were part of the first group of SEA students to write the exam during the pandemic, and after months of virtual learning, he said the children already went through enough with the exam and the country should now focus on celebrating their achievement.
“We are happy that this has come to an amicable resolution. Aaron also performed well and I send congratulations to him and his family.
“Ameerah is quite fine and she is very relieved this has come to an end because she is not a child that likes publicity and her face has been all over the papers these past few days.”
Contention over wh
