ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — At just 15 years old, Maleik Wellington and Leonardo Bromfield of St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, have distinguished themselves as exceptional academic performers in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Demonstrating remarkable brilliance and discipline, the teens excelled in subjects typically reserved for older students—setting a new benchmark for academic excellence at the rural institution.

Both students earned an impressive slate of CSEC subjects while managing the demands of adolescence, extracurricular involvement, and—in Maleik’s case—a rigorous schoolboy football schedule.

Maleik Wellington, son of STETHS principal, Keith Wellington, earned six grade ones and two grade twos in the 2025 CSEC examinations.

His performance included passes in Spanish, English Language, biology, principles of accounts, physical education. and information technology. These were complemented by grade-two results in mathematics and English Literature.

Maleik also earned a grade-two in social studies while in grade nine, bringing his total CSEC subject count to nine—an exceptional accomplishment for a student just 15 years old.

“Going into the exam, it was just to pass it overall. But in terms of grades, I was trying to get as much grade ones as possible. So, I just did what I could, and when the results came, I felt proud,” he said.

Maleik’s exam preparations were carefully managed around a demanding schedule of training sessions and competitive matches. He maximised his classroom time by staying attentive and proactively seeking out missed work from teachers and peers.

Moreover, he credits his father for offering consistent encouragement and reinforcing the belief that genuine effort was always enough.

“He always pushes me to do as good as possible, and to be honest, he gave me a lot of motivation going into the exams. He told me that you’re 15, you’re young. Don’t really worry about it, don’t stress yourself. Just try [to do] your best and I’ll be proud of you either way,” the youngster told JIS News.

Despite his age, Maleik has consistently secured a place on the STETHS honour roll while actively pursuing his passion for football.

His sporting achievements are equally noteworthy. He captained the STETHS Under-14 team to a championship victory in 2022 and continued to demonstrate leadership as vice-captain in the 2023 season.

More recently, Maleik played a pivotal leadership role in STETHS’ 2024 Ben Francis Cup victory and captained Jamaica’s national team at the 2025 CONCACAF Under-15 Championship. He also contributed to Jamaica’s triumph in the 2024 Caribbean Football Union tournament.

Equally commendable is Leonardo Bromfield, who secured a flawless sweep of eight grade-one distinctions in Spanish, English Language, principles of accounts, principles of business, information technology, human and social biology, mathematics, and food, nutrition and health.

“I would like to [thank] God first, and my parents, for always being there for me. [Also] my friends and siblings, my sister who helped me to study for English, which was one of my weakest subjects, and I managed to get a grade one in that,” Leonardo tells JIS News.

He added, “my sister also helped me with Spanish with all of my siblings, since they all did Spanish as well; so I used what I really took from them, and they really helped me.”

As secretary of the STETHS Key Club, Leonardo learned to balance his responsibilities effectively.

He adopted a structured learning strategy rooted in active recall techniques, dedicating 45 minutes to an hour each day to focused study sessions, punctuated by regular breaks.

Looking ahead, Leonardo intends to pursue a career in accounting, beginning with sixth form studies at STETHS and continuing at the University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica.

“I want to be an accountant because I love the computers, and I love accounts as a subject. My accounts teacher really motivated me to pursue that career in the future,” he shares.

Leonardo offers thoughtful advice to students preparing for next year’s CSEC examinations.

“Pray, keep God first, manifest the grace that you want and you will achieve it,” he declares.

STETHS principal and Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), president, Keith Wellington, expressed pride in Maleik’s achievements—both as a father and as an educator.

He notes that his son is likely among the youngest fifth-form students in Jamaica to have mastered eight CSEC subjects while simultaneously managing a demanding schedule of national, club, and school football commitments.

Remarkably, Maleik attended national training camps on weekends throughout the CSEC exam period, exemplifying a rare combination of discipline, resilience, and time management under pressure.

“So I’m really, really proud of him as a parent and my other professional duties in terms of ISSA. I’m really pleased that I see my own child accomplishing the things that I would like to see every child in my care do. It is something that I can use as motivation for the other boys… that I have responsibility for at ISSA and STETHS,” Wellington told JIS News.

He reported that approximately 275 students sat CSEC exams at STETHS this year, with overall performance remaining strong across most subject areas. Pass rates typically ranged from 80 to 100 per cent.

For Wellington, the achievements of his son and fellow students stand as a testament to the unwavering dedication of the STETHS community, and serves as motivation for continued growth.

—   JIS

Top Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) performer of St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, Leonardo Bromfield.
(Photo: Okoye Henry)

Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) high achiever and top footballer at St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, Maleik Wellington. (Photo: Okoye Henry)