Central Islamic School's Taskeen Aziz Joosub achieved top honours at the Association of Muslim School's (AMS) first ever Matric Awards (Class of 2017), held in Lenasia recently.
The outstanding learner took top honours for her 8 distinctions and 94 percent aggregate which included 89 percent for English Home Language, 95 percent for Life Sciences and 99 percent for Accounting.
The gala luncheon, hosted by AMS, was to recognise the academic excellence of learners who wrote the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination in 2017 and was well-attended by the school's top performing learners and parents, school boards, principals and special guests.
AMS in Gauteng and the northern regions also awarded the top learner, from each affiliated school, and the top learners per subject. Noteworthy achievements included Middelburg Muslim School's Zahra Noor Mahomed who achieved 99 percent for Mathematics and two learners who scored 98 percent for Physical Science: Dawood Hamza from Tshwane Muslim School and Ummi Kulthum Moosa from Al Asr Educational Institute.
Ummi Kulthum (Al Asr) was placed second and Lenasia Muslim School's Taskeen Hasrod was placed third, both achieving an above 90 percent aggregate for the NSC Matric exam. The top three learners were placed the same provincially, being the top three learners from Independent Schools in Gauteng.
AMS Executive Committee Member and lead organiser for the event, Suliman Ismail, said acknowledging learners on a scale like this would further enhance academic excellence. “The matric results of our affiliated schools have always been commendable, but showcasing learners at this awards ceremony may inspire and encourage others to achieve even higher,” he added. The Gauteng Education Department's Director for Independent Schools, Steve Sebeho, who also addressed the audience said, “We congratulate the learners affiliated to AMS and acknowledge the great effort made by their teachers for achieving marks of such distinction.”
Keynote speaker and renowned teacher, principal and educational specialist, Rashid Mohammed, acknowledged the role of AMS in striving to achieve academic excellence and offered valuable life lessons to the matriculants.
All awardees were also acknowledged by Awqaf South Africa that joined the event as a community sponsor, with its Founding CEO, Zeinoul Abedien Cajee announcing that all the top learners recognised had been duly entered in the Waqf fund. "It is with great honour that we also acknowledge the achievement of learners in the Muslim community," Cajee said.
All schools affiliated to AMS also received a special plaque from AMS, presented by Ebrahim Saloojee, noting the association and its contribution to academic excellence.
“It is hoped that top learners from AMS schools continue to shine in this manner, using this inaugural awards ceremony as a benchmark for further distinction,” an AMS official said.
Muslim Schools of Gauteng for 2017 Awards: Taskeen Aziz Joosub (centre) from Central Islamic School (CIS) took 1st position, Ummi Kulthum Moosa (right) from Al-Asr Educational Institute was awarded 2nd place and Taskeen Hasrod (left) of Lenasia Muslim School achieved 3rd place.
Yusuf Dadabhay (principal of CIS) presents the 1st place award to Taskeen Aziz Joosub.
Steve Sebeho, Director of Independent Schools in the Gauteng Department of Education addresses the audience.