ISLAMABAD: Girls outshone boys once again by clinching all top positions in both science and humanities groups as the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) announced the annual results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) part I and II exams on Tuesday.

Rida Fatima from Global College of Science Sabzazar, Rawalpindi, got the first position in the science group after securing 1,089 marks while Malika Amir from DHA Senior School for Girls Phase-V Lahore Cantt stood first in the humanities group, obtaining 1,037 marks.

In the science group, the second position was shared by three girl students – Maryam Ghaffar from Islamabad Model College for Girls, G-10/2 as well as Warda Farooq and Amna Aamer from APS Girls Sarfraz Rafiqui Road Lahore Cantt – who got 1,088 marks. Fatima Ansari from the Army Public School and College Gujranwala Cantt came third with 1,087 marks.

In the humanities group, the second position was shared by Rida Fatima Waheed from AQ Khan School and College Bahria Town Phase 8, Islamabad, and Zainab Khalid from APS Girls Tufail Road Lahore Cantt who secured 1,032 marks. Tehsheem Eman from APS Tufail Road Lahore Cantt obtained 1,031 marks and stood third.

Overall, the pass percentage for class 10 was 89.61pc while that of class 9 was 65.28pc.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Education Rana Tanveer Hussain said it was a great achievement for those who obtained positions in the wake of tough competition.

He appreciated the performance of the board and its working, saying that other countries were taking assistance from Pakistani education boards, which was a matter of pride.

“I congratulate our brilliant children who have succeeded. It is a good decision that the pass percentage in matric exams is being increased to 40pc from next year,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, FBISE Chairman Qaiser Alam said: “Today we are announcing the annual results for the year 2023 together for the first time.” Earlier, the board used to announce results separately.

He said in the last one-and-a-half years, an unstoppable series of reforms and improvements were made in the education sector.

“It is the commitment of the federal minister that the number of out-of-school children is decreasing today. For the first time in the country’s history, an endowment fund has been established for education,” the FBISE chairman said, adding that as long as there was no quality in our education, “we will not be able to compete with the world”.

“This time we have prepared results in 20 to 25 days and that too through e-marking,” Qaiser Alamsaid.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2023