Taking the lead: Girls clinch top positions in Aga Khan board annual examinations

45 per cent of the candidates achieve 'A' grade or above in SSC part I exams

KARACHI: Girls outshined their male counterparts in the annual results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) of the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB).

According to the results announced on Tuesday, the AKU-EB assessed SSC and HSSC students in 94 subjects at 29 centres, located in 24 cities across Pakistan. The overall pass percentage for SSC part I was 88.4 with 45 per cent of the candidates scoring 'A' grade or above. Meanwhile, the overall pass percentage for SSC part II was 90.6 with 54.5 per cent of the candidates obtaining 'A' grade and above.

"Congratulations to all the candidates who worked hard in preparing for the exams," said AKU-EB director Shehzad Jeeva. "The students who passed demonstrate higher cognitive skills and the ability to use critical thinking and problem solving skills."

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Among the successful candidates, Mariam Sajjad from PECHS Girls' School scored 94.9 per cent and clinched the first position in SSC. She also attained the highest marks in the elective subjects of the science group. "AKU-EB encourages conceptual learning and we have to give short answers based on our concepts so there is no rote learning at all," she said. "The concept-based learning approach and transparency in the entire examination process makes the AKU-EB unique."

Another student of the same school, Asifa Maqbool, secured the second-highest position with 93.18 per cent marks. "I am very excited and feel like I'm on top of the world right now," she said. "Ever since I came into class nine, I have been working very hard and dreamt about securing a top position. My teachers and parents have been very supportive of me and have always motivated me."

The principal of the school, Seema Malik, said, "We have always believed in active learning. A lot of emphasis is made on understanding and plan-do-review approach. The board assesses students in a similar manner. Students who have achieved the positions did not take any tuitions and this is a hallmark of our quality education."

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Meanwhile, Uzma Durre Sameen from Maryam Siddiqa Girls Higher Secondary School secured the third position in the SSC exams. The school's principal, Shabana Nuzhat, was proud of the girl's achievement. "I am delighted to hear about Uzma's brilliant performance," she said. No doubt it's due to her hard work and sheer commitment of all teachers that the school achieved this remarkable distinction."

In the elective subjects of the humanities group, Anoosha from Habib Girls School secured the highest marks.

In the HSSC exams, the first and second positions were secured by girls belonging to the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Karimabad. Fatema Quaid Johar did not only clinch the overall first position in HSSC examination with 93.45 per cent, but also topped in the elective subjects of the pre-engineering group. Similarly, Marium Zehra scored 91.45 per cent and secured the second position. Meanwhile, Faiza Jamal from Habib Girls School secured the overall third position in HSSC examination and also stood first in the pre-medical elective subjects.

This year, the pass percentage for HSSC part I examination was 88.3 with 35.2 per cent of the candidates scoring 'A' grade or above. The pass percentage for HSSC part II examination was 92.2 per cent with 46.2 per cent of the candidates obtaining 'A' grade or above.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2015.