378 Beaconites Stamp Academic Arena with High Achiever Awards

Shumaila Javed Bhatti

Thursday, April 29, 2010, 10:31

More than 350 Beaconhouse CIE distinction holders and high achiever students received their Cambridge O and A Level High Achiever Awards from Lt. General Muhammad Asghar HI (M), Rector NUST at the grand Beaconhouse GCE O and A Level High Achiever Ceremony.

The 378 GCE CIE O and A Level High achievers included the 29 prize winning CIE international, national and regional Beaconhouse CIE distinction holders included Anika Sadiq – top in the world in A Level Mathematics, also a Cambridge Academic Brilliance Award winner,

Zainab Abaid – top in the world in A Level Psychology, Faryal Khalid – top in the world in O Level Mathematics, Tabish Jaleel – top in the world in O Level Advanced Math and Zara Durrani – top in the world in A Level Economics. Along with top in Pakistan positions for Saad Qadeer, Faizaan Abassi, Zarak Pasha, Mashail Malik, Usman Masood and Nadia Ashraf. The distinction holders included top in the region positions for Umaira Iqbal, Sarim Zia, Farheen Akhtar, Xenab Naqvi, Shah Zaman, Malika Shahbaz, Sidra Hassan, Tabish Sheikh, Arsalan Adil, Hira basher, Mariam Javed, mashail Aman, Mehak Akhlaq, Muhammad Junaid Farooq, Saad Qadeer, Zara Durrani and Maria ul Mulk.

The ceremony was held at the Beaconhouse Margalla Campus where Lt. General Muhammad Asghar, Rector, NUST, graced the occasion as Chief Guest, Mr. Talat Hussain, eminent journalist and media personality delivered the keynote address and Master Mohammad Ayub, a remarkable citizen who runs a free school for the under privileged children of Islamabad in F-6 was Guest of Honour for the evening at a ceremony attended by more than a 1000 parents, students and guests that included His Excellency the Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman, Ms. Uzma Yousaf, the Country Manager Relationships and Communication for Cambridge International Examinations in Pakistan and Brig. and Mrs. Sadiq, parents of Beaconhouse High Achiever, Saad Sadiq, who was martyred in the attack on Parade Lane.

After distributing prizes, medals and shields to the high achievers Chief Guest Lt. Gen. Muhammad Asghar HI (M), Rector NUST congratulated the 378 high achievers, their parents and the Beaconhouse School System. He said that, “BSS is a symbol of quality excellence and progressive sprit. In a period of just over three decades it has emerged as a respected educational brand in Pakistan and abroad”. General Asghar emphasized to the students that, “Knowledge becomes education only if its acquisition carried a moral purpose”. He advised the need and importance of courtesy and ‘adab’ as part of one’s cultural values. He advised all students to “Develop the ability to discover the elements of success in every apparent failure.”

Mr. Danial Kasuri, Executive Director Beaconhouse Group, in his opening address welcomed all guests in celebrating the brilliant academic milestones achieved by students and teachers. He shared with the audience the achievements of Beaconhouse schools spread across a network in 8 countries of the world. He stressed on the role played by both teachers, saying that, “Results like these are the culmination of extensive intensive research, planning and training of our dedicated teachers and the development of school facilities”. He congratulated the proud parents and stressed that, “Our children face countless attractions and distractions in today’s world. They are in more need than ever before of sustained parental involvement. Let us all join hands to ensure, that for our children, for these students, this is only the very first of many successes that we can and must, help them to achieve.” Mr. Kasuri’s inspiring speech addressed all parents, teachers and the students, quoting Habib Jalib’s eternal words he urged students, “that unless you serve humanity, and by humanity I mean the teeming millions, this education won’t be worth a dime. If you continue, only to seek opportunities for yourself and not for your countrymen, the poor and the downtrodden, this education isn’t worth a dime. So go out and serve, those who genuinely need to be served.”

These sentiments were also in evidence by the presence of Honour at the occasion, Master Muhammad Ayub, an extraordinary simple proud citizen, is untiringly imparting education to street children who have no access to literacy otherwise. For over 25 years, he has taught thousands of such children. A school without a roof, or walls, Mr. Ayub has never asked for any grants from influential sector, nor fee from his students. He believes that if every one teaches just one word daily, illiteracy will recede. He said that many of his students voluntarily teach in his school. Master Ayub also distributed medals and shields among the prize winners and in his address explained to the gathering how in the last 25 years he has faced countless difficulties in carrying out his service to humanity and mankind in the form of being ridiculed and being harassed. Despite all hardships his motivation and dedication towards improving conditions for children who have no means of affording basic education have never lessened. Master Ayub was accompanied by 3 of his former students who are now helping him to teach and run his unique school.

The Keynote Speaker for the High Achievers Ceremony was Mr. Talat Hussain, eminent journalist and media personality. As part of his keynote address, Mr. Talat Hussain also gave a pictorial presentation – the images that he shared with the audience only strengthened the impact of his thought provoking and motivating words for the young high achievers. He congratulated the recipients of the excellent and record breaking international results and also urged them to continue their drive to not just excel academically but also to utilize their faculties in exploring, inventing and thinking of ways to contribute to making life better for the community at large. His presentation included images of glorious moments from Pakistan’s history, images of triumph and achievement in life and sports. Simultaneously, he also explained to the students how Pakistan is at a point in time when basic facilities are unavailable to many. His addressed tied up crucial links and culminated in his strong advice for these students to not forget the immense responsibility they have as young Pakistani citizens to think, act and contribute actively to improving the quality of life for their fellow humans.

All present at the gathering were immensely moved and touched at the announcement of a brilliant 6 CIE AS grades for Saad Sadiq, a Beaconhouse high achiever whose innocent young life was lost in the tragic attack on the Parade Lane mosque on 4th December 2009. His parents, Brig and Mrs. Sadiq were accompanied by their two older children, Shahzad and Namrah, both Beaconhouse alumni. Brig Sadiq received the shield in honour of his son who has received accolades from all his teachers, fellow students and friends as being, “The best of the best! Anyone who met Saad even once, will never forget him- for he was and will always remain one of our finest! Always to be cherished.” His mother, Mrs. Sadiq addressed the audience and shared memories of her son and read out extracts from a speech that Saad Sadiq Shaheed had written for his election to the Student Council. She thanked Beaconhouse where she said, her son had spent his best times from pre-nursery till two hours before he died during Jumma prayers at the mosque. Saad Sadiq’s photographs from different school activities were displayed on the screen and his mother’s heart touching words brought tears to many eyes. At the end of her speech, Saad Sadiq’s mother received a standing ovation from the audience led by the Chief Guest, Keynote Speaker and Guest of Honour as she was accompanied back to her seat by her older son, Shehzad Sadiq.

Anika Sadik, Zainab Abaid and Sarim Zia gave the valedictorian speeches while Umar Khan enthralled the guests with his exquisite violin recital and Salik Shah had the audience completely involved in his melodious rendition of “Khamaaj” during the ceremony.

At the end of the ceremony the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker were presented mementos by Mr. Danial Kasuri. The Chief Guest also presented Mr. Kasuri with a NUST memento.

The student ushers in their crisp Beaconhouse uniforms received all parents and guests and guided them to their seats on arrival as well as being perfect hosts till the end of the ceremony and dinner. The expansive Margalla Campus looked beautiful, decorated in greens and whites with fresh flower arrangements, fairy lights, garden lanterns and floating candle displays in coordinated planers and pottery that gave the evening a soft, elegant ambience. All guests and parents enjoyed dinner in the grand red brick courtyard of the campus surrounded by loved ones, teachers, students and guests.

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