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The sixth annual Aga Khan University Examination Board’s High Achievers’ Awards ceremony to reward and recognize the accomplishments of secondary and higher secondary students was held at the Aga Khan University campus.

While talking to the young graduates, Azhar Abbas, Managing Director Geo News, Geo Television Network, asked them to remember that graduation is only a concept. “In real life a person graduates every day and it continues till his or her last breath,” he reminded the students and “those of us who can grasp this notion can make a difference.” While quoting Albert Einstein he asked the young graduates not to try too hard to become a ‘man’ of success, but rather try and become a ‘man’ of value.

Welcoming the gathering, Dr Thomas Christie, Director AKU-EB expressed his satisfaction at the progress made by AKU-EB students. “Seeing our alumni moving toward their career goals, obtaining admissions to top universities, especially those internationally is very encouraging,” he said. “The increase in admissions to international universities was 183 per cent, almost three times higher than 2010 as identified by AKU-EB’s University Destination Survey conducted in 2011. Some of these universities include Mt. Holyoke College and the University of Houston in the US; and the University of Regina and Simon Fraser University in Canada.” He pointed out that nationally, AKU-EB alumni secured admissions in 145 leading institutions across Pakistan. “We look forward to the success of this year’s HSSC graduates as well in pursuing diverse professions at the universities of their choice. We have prepared them for higher level education with the right tools of critical thinking, conceptual knowledge and application. We wish them all the best.”

This year, AKU-EB awarded 160 distinctions in different subject areas and streams of studies to SSC and HSSC candidates from 40 cities across Pakistan. Cash prizes were also awarded to the top three SSC and HSSC position holders.

Among the top SSC candidates were Syed Wahaj Ahmed, Sadaf Batool Rizvi, Sheharyar Farooq, Zahra Hussaini respectively; and the top HSSC candidates were Anum Zehra Raza, Hafsa Jawed and Adil Shah respectively.

In his closing remarks, Firoz Rasul, President, Aga Khan University, congratulated the students on their exceptional achievements. He also lauded AKU-EB for focussing on learning based on understanding of concepts and utilising application-based assessments in an effort to do away with rote learning. Highlighting the importance of interactive teaching and learning President Rasul talked about, “aims to empower our students. By actively sharing their experiences and individual knowledge obtained through social interactions, observations and research, students can help transform the whole learning environment in the classrooms.

  Meet the high achievers

Source: AKU-EB