High achievers: Female candidates clinch all the top positions in matric exams

The results of the examination were announced a day before the official deadline

KARACHI: By announcing the results a day before the deadline, the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) ended the wait of 160,805 science, general and special candidates who appeared in their matriculation examination in 2015.

With a promise to introduce computerised enrolment cards and admittance cards in BSEK, the board's secretary, Hoor Mazhar, said that the institution was improving with each passing day, in terms of technology and standards. "To meet the deadline for the results given by the steering committee, our staff worked late, even working through the Eid holidays, which proves our dedication towards the education system," she said, applauding the staff's efforts.

The chairperson of BSEK, Anwar Ahmed Zai, in his motivational speech for the position holders, referred to them as seeds, which will grow and be fruitful for the country. "These students sitting here are the future of Pakistan and one day they will grow and shine," he said.

Read: Matric results: Girls bag top positions in SSC examinations

Science Group

A student of the Oxford Islamic Scientific School, Anousha Asghar, bagged first position in the matric science group, securing 92.82 per cent with 789 out of 850 marks. The second position was claimed by Asghar's class fellow, Muneeba Talib, with 92.58 per cent or 787 marks. Muneza Azam from the Programmer Girls Secondary School secured 92.47 per cent with 786 marks, attaining third position among 144,942 students who appeared for the matriculation examination this year.

The controller of examinations, Noman Ahsan, announced in his speech that the pass percentage in the science group this year dropped by eight per cent compared to last year where the percentage was 69.7 per cent.  A total of 88,428 students have cleared all five papers, while 56,514 failed in at least one paper.

According to statistics, 6,864 students got an A-1 grade, which is 4.74 per cent of the total passed students. Meanwhile, 14.61 per cent of the students managed to secure an A grade. 20.06 per cent and 15.64 per cent of the students gained B and C grades respectively, while 8,134 candidates received D grades in their SSC part-II examination, 2015.

General Group

Like science, girls managed to secure all three top positions in the general, private and regular combined groups. Aqsa Zubair, a student of Al-Badar Higher Secondary School, secured first position with 89.41 per cent or 760 marks, while Hareem Siddiqui and Hafiza Kainat Malik from Iqra Huffaz Girls Secondary School secured second and third positions respectively with 89.06 per cent and 87.29 per cent. Out of the 25,774 candidates, 57.19 per cent passed all subjects.

Special Candidates

Ahsan also announced the results of 89 special candidates who appeared in the matriculation exams of 2015. All three positions were achieved by the students of ABSA School for the deaf. Yusra secured first position with 89.29 per cent, while Tooba Shahid and Fatima Abbas grabbed second and third positions with 758 and 746 marks.

Critical position holders

"Our education system is not transparent, which is why every parent wants their child to study in private schools," said Anousha Asghar. Tooba Shahid was happy to be recognised but complained that nothing is done for students in terms of difficulties in communication. "I want more books on sign language to be introduced and television programmes to be done for the awareness of parents," said Tooba's mother as she interpreted her views.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2015.