July 12, 2008	Saturday	Rajab 8, 1429

KARACHI, July 11: Not a single candidate could secure the “A-one” grade in the Intermediate Home Economics annual examinations-2008, the results of which were announced on Friday.

According to the statistics released by the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK), a total of 444 candidates appeared in the examination and 225 of them emerged successful. The pass percentage stood at 57.43.

While none of the candidates could secure the “A-one” grade, only 14 (or 3.15 per cent) secured the “A grade” and another 72 (16.22 per cent) the B grade.

Ms Bareera Afzal (Roll No.170656), daughter of Syed Mohammad Afzal Naqvi, bagged first position with 936 out of the total 1,200 marks while Ms Rabia Sarfraz (Roll No.170839), daughter of Sheikh Sarfraz Amin, with 920 marks and Ms Marium Sheikh (Roll No.170770), daughter of Salahuddin, with 915 marks secured second and third positions, respectively.

All the three position-holders are the students of Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan Government College of Home Economics.

Not happy at the marks they have obtained, the resentful toppers blamed the Karachi Electric Supply Company for carrying out indiscriminate load-shedding day and night during their examinations causing them an immense loss of study and sleep.

“We would have done much better had our studies not been affected by the frequent power failures and load-shedding,” they maintained.

They expressed their views at a ceremony organised by the BIEK at its conference hall shortly after announcing the results. BIEK Chairman Prof Anwar Ahmed Zai, Director-General of Colleges, Sindh, Prof Rafique Ahmed Siddiqui, Controller of Examinations Prof Agha Akber Mirza and other officials of the board, besides parents of the position-holders were present.

Ms Bareera Afzal said Home Economics was the best subject for girl students, advising those pursuing their higher studies in different disciplines of the group to adopt it as their profession. She believed that such professionals were in great demand in different industries like food, nutrition, textile, interior decoration, etc.

Asked about the role of student unions, she said although no one could deny the importance of unions, students should not affiliate themselves with any political party, adding that activities of a student union must be confined to the welfare of students. She said she intends to do Masters in Home Economics.

Ms Rabia Sarfraz was of the view that students could pass their examinations with flying colours without taking any tuition if they attended their classes regularly and devote at least three to four hours daily to their studies at home.

In reply to a question, she said she did not find any candidate at her examination centre indulging in cheating or using any other unfair means.

She also intends to do her Masters in Home Economics. Ms Marium Sheikh personally aims to become a doctor. She said she had chosen Home Economics to fulfill her mother’s wish. However, she stated, after studying Home Economics, she had realised that the subjects taught in the group were ideal for girl students. She said advised students of the group to go for a career in any discipline of Home Economics. She now intends to do her Masters in Food and Nutrition. Earlier, the BIEK chairman spoke at the ceremony and congratulated the position-holders and all those who emerged successful in the examinations.