DUBAI // Ahmed Shahein had a hunch he had aced his Grade 12 science examinations, but he never thought he had earned the highest grade in the country.
When Humaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education, read out his name while announcing the top-performing students in the annual Grade 12 examinations, the Egyptian pupil was shocked.
“I was very surprised,” said Ahmed, 17, from Al Manara Private School. “I predicted I would be one of the top 10, but I didn’t predict I would be the first exactly, so it was a very good surprise.”
But to those who know Ahmed, the fact that he achieved a 99.85 per cent in the science stream of the exam did not come as such a surprise.
He has enjoyed studying since he was a child, particularly maths and physics. He dedicates about five to six hours daily to homework and reviewing the day’s lessons.
“I feel happy when I’m thinking, when I’m solving problems, physics and mathematics problems,” said Ahmed, who wants to study mechanical engineering.
“I like solving problems and I’m very good at them.”
Ahmed was one of about 37,000 public and private school pupils following the ministry curriculum to sit for the Grade 12 examinations last month.
The results were announced on YouTube.com/UAEGov. Students were also sent text messages of their grades.
“Social media is very important, especially among the students,” said Mr Al Qattami.
“So this is the decision taken by the Government that this year we would announce it by the YouTube and we are really very proud.
Mr Al Qattami also held a news conference in Dubai to congratulate the students.
The pass rate in the literary section was 67.8 per cent, and 89.4 per cent in the scientific stream.
Ayesha Al Marri, the ministry’s director of assessment, said the pupils’ overall performance was commendable but little improved compared with the previous academic year.
“Actually, there wasn’t much difference between this year and last year,” Ms Al Marri said.
“It’s actually the same as the previous year, just a little bit of an improvement in literacy.”
She said the low passing rate of students who took the literary exam was because of the number of adults and home-schooled pupils, who dragged down the average.
“We have a lot of the students who come from adult study and home study. That’s what happens, it’s becoming the percentage lowerer,” Mrs Al Marri said.
Public school students had the highest pass rate, with 82.5 per cent passing the literary exam and 91.4 the scientific.
Private schools operating on the ministry curriculum came in second with 79.5 per cent of students passing the literary exam and 88.1 passing the scientific.
In adult schools, 53.6 per cent passed the literary test and 38.5 per cent the scientific.
Of the home-schooled students, 23.7 passed the literary test and 27.8 the scientific.
Emirati Mariam Murad ranked first in the literary section, with a grade of 99.92 per cent.
Raghad Al Otaibi, 17, from Emirates Private School in Al Ain was just behind at 99.70.
“I studied really hard,” said Raghad, who wants to be a lawyer.
“Mainly, I’m inspired by my mum, she is my inspiration. She has done great things in her life. She also got high scores in high school and she always pushes me and pushes me to become a successful person.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
