Students of Aga Khan Schools excel in board examinations across Pakistan
A Merit Citation Ceremony at the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School (AKHSS) in Gilgit was held to recognise the exceptional results achieved by students of Aga Khan Schools in Pakistan’s 2021 secondary and higher secondary school examinations for 15 and 17 year olds.
Following the cancellation of examinations in 2020 due to COVID-19, the 2021 examinations were held physically by the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB) and the Karakorum International University Examination Board (KIU-EB). The President of the Ismaili Regional Council for Hunza, Colonel (Retd) Imtiaz ul Haq, presided over the ceremony as chief guest. The ceremony was also attended by officials in the Gilgit-Baltistan government and representatives from KIU-EB and AKU-EB.
Students of the Aga Khan Schools achieved 34 top provincial-level positions (the highest marks) in the Secondary and Higher Secondary level examinations held by AKU-EB. In addition, Nazia Jahan of Diamond Jubilee High School in Mohammadabad, and Anila Issa of Diamond Jubilee High School in Sonikote, two schools in Gilgit-Baltistan, achieved the first and second highest results respectively in KIU-EB’s Secondary School Certificate.
These achievements are particularly remarkable given the challenging academic environment during the pandemic, when classes were mostly held online and learning conditions were drastically altered. The willingness of students and teachers to adapt to the unprecedented situation were key factors in the students’ success.
Shahina Ali Raza, Principal of AKHSS in Karachi, credits the “adaptability and determination of our qualified team of teachers, as well as our students’ efforts and commitment to learning” for ensuring that distance learning did not compromise exam results. Students at AKHSS, Karachi achieved 11 top provincial positions in the examinations.
Syeda Rija Abidi of AKHSS in Karachi, who achieved the first position in Science General at Higher Secondary, appreciated the efforts of her teachers to not only deliver classes online but also encourage class discussions. “It was due to active participation in these discussions and mock preparation that I didn't have to cram for exams,” Syeda said. “I owe my success to all my teachers who managed to create this conducive learning environment.”
Muhammad Jahangir, Principal of AKHSS in Gahkuch in Gilgit-Baltistan acknowledged the hard work and team spirit of teachers and students who came together to overcome the difficulties posed by COVID-19 restrictions. AKHSS in Gahkuch achieved five top provincial positions in the examinations.
One of the difficulties faced as a result of COVID-19 restrictions included distance learning, which is especially challenging in the mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral because of low internet connectivity. Schools and teachers had to devise creative ways to manage the situation, including distributing lectures and tutorials on USBs for students with unreliable internet connections.
The hard work and dedication from teachers since the pandemic began has allowed students of Aga Khan Schools to thrive academically. Fazal Rehman of AKHSS in Gahkuch, who achieved the third provincial position in the Secondary School Certificate, reflected on how “consistent hard work with a clear plan, along with motivation during the hard times, can help one achieve any goal”.
Photos (top to bottom):
- Students of the Aga Khan Schools achieved 34 top provincial-level positions in the Aga Khan University Examination Board’s Secondary and Higher Secondary level examinations (photo taken prior to COVID-19).
- During government mandated school closures, teachers worked hard to provide remote learning in challenging conditions where many students did not have access to the internet (photo taken prior to COVID-19).
