Annual exams 2017: Girls take the lead in AKU-EB results

Female candidates secure top three positions in SSC and HSSC exams

KARACHI: Girls outshined the boys by scoring top positions in the annual results of the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB) secondary school certificate (SSC) and higher secondary school certificate (HSSC) 2017.

The results for the annual examination conducted in May this year were announced on Thursday. Since its inception in 2003, the board has proved that its students are capable of attaining success through the high-quality education they receive in secondary school.

SSC

The overall passing percentage for year one and two SSC students was 85.7% and 90.6% respectively, which was a rise over last year's results of 85.5% and 88.8%. Furthermore, 69.4% of year one students and 81.2% of year two students scored 60% or higher in all of their examinations.



The high achievers in SSC year two are all girls. Fizza Rubab of PECHS Girls School bagged the first position by getting 1,037 marks out of 1,100 with an A-1 grade. "This came as a huge surprise to me and I am immensely grateful to my school, teachers, friends and family for their support, encouragement and prayers throughout the year," said Fizza, adding that the style of AKU-EB made it possible for her to achieve this position. Under this board, students are focused, unlike the style of conventional study practiced in Pakistan.

Samreen Raja of Nusrat Jehan Academy Girls High School got second position with 1,029 out of 1,100 marks, scoring 93.54%. Shamsa from Aga Khan School - Garden got 1,027 out of 1,100 marks with 93.36% and got third position.

HSSC

The passing percentage for year one and two of HSSC candidates was 87.9% and 87.8% respectively, compared to 86.6% and 84.5% in the annual examinations of 2016.



In addition, 72.7% of year one candidates and 75.2% of year two candidates scored 60% or above in all of their examinations. In the HSSC too, female candidates proved themselves at the higher end and bagged the top three positions.

Mariam Sajjad from Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Karimabad, Karachi, obtained the first position by scoring 1,050 marks out of 1,100, with 95.45%. Sajjad also bagged top position two years ago when she appeared in AKU-EB's SSC examination.

"I feel on top of the world. I can't express my feelings in words, it feels great to see your hard work pay off," Sajjad said.  She believes that studying in the AKU-EB system infused her with a sense of curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, which helped to broaden her horizons.



Urooj Usmani from the same school scored 1,028 out of 1,100 marks, with 93.45%, and got the second position. Nusrat Jahan College's Muqaddas Alvi stood third by obtaining 1,022 out of 1,100 marks and 92.90%.

Shahina Aliraza, principal of the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Karimabad, said she is ecstatic at the performance of her students and their achievements. "Compared to other boards, AKU-EB students are more confident and critically conscious, because they are the kind of learners who always strive to explore their potential," she said.

"AKU-EB students consistently perform better in university entrance tests. Around 90% of our 2015 HSSC graduates received admission in various universities," said AKU-EB Director Dr Shehzad Jeeva. A recent study conducted by a national body on examination quality and standardisation found that students from AKU-EB are more likely to perform better in university entrance tests, as compared to other examination boards.

Associate director of assessment, Dr Naveed Yousuf, congratulated the students and said, "It is only through perseverance and determination that they can achieve their goals".