UAE Student tops Gulf in CBSE Grade 12 exam

 UAE Student tops Gulf in CBSE Grade 12 exam

Dubai boy Hanumanth Kumar has topped the Gulf in the All India Senior School Certificate exam results that were announced by Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) on Monday.

Kumar, 17, from the Indian High School Dubai (IHS), secured 98.6 per cent in the science stream, followed closely by his friend and classmate Ahmad Yousuf, who secured 98 per cent to stand second overall.

Making a double, IHS girl Odelyn Barreto topped the country in the commerce stream, scoring 97 per cent.

Keeping all three top accolades in Dubai, Our Own English High School Dubai’s Revathi Sukumaran bagged top honours in the Arts stream with 95.8 per cent.

Speaking to Gulf News, a delighted Kumar, who scored 100 in three subjects — Chemistry, Computer Science and Maths — said: “I’m really excited by the numbers. What I have achieved is beyond my expectation. I thank my teachers and parents for their support and prayers.”

A topper all through his school years, the whiz-kid, who hails from Chennai in India, insists there is no particular formula for his success. “There is no alternative for hard work and dedication. Understanding the concepts and keeping yourself focused is the key. I usually try to get in the zone when I study and don’t give up until I finish a concept,” added Kumar.

A big fan of computer science, Kumar aims to pursue studies at the University of Waterloo in Canada. “It’s one of the best in the world,” he says.

Lapping up her son’s success, Shobha Jayakumar says Kumar was a brilliant boy all along and always bound for higher things.

“Right from his younger days, he was very dedicated and took up responsibilities on his own. He always knew what to study and is always focused on what he wants to achieve,” said the proud mother.

But it’s not only academics that he excelled at. Kumar has won top accolades in several inter-school quizzes, oratory activities as well as sports.

“He likes taking part in quizzes and oratory, and he is also a member of our school’s cricket team,” said Kumar’s mother, talking about her son, who is a spin bowler.

Yousuf who came a close second agrees: “We always had a healthy competition but we help each other in studies and to understand concepts. All of us worked hard and I came close to topping. I m a bit disappointed but it’s ok, I’m happy for Hanumanth.”

Unlike Kumar, Yousuf who scored 100 in chemistry and 99 in physics, plans to pursue a career in mechanical engineering but hasn’t decided on the university.

Though Kumar and Yusuf had more or less expected their results, Barreto, the UAE’s commerce topper from IHS, says she was surprised by the results.

“I knew I would do well, but I never thought I would score 97 per cent and top the country. This is unbelievable and I’m really happy. I thank my parents and teachers, this is for them,” she said.

The 17-year-old plans to join the University of Wollongong Dubai and pursue accounts and finance.

Breaking the IHS monopoly is Revathi Sukumaran from Our Own English High School Dubai, who topped the Humanities stream with 95.8 per cent.

Revathi scored 100 in Entrepreneurship and Psychology and is elated by her achievement.

“I did my exams really well and I was pretty sure about the results but getting 100 is something special. I’m really happy. My parents are really proud about my achievement and I thank them and my teachers for their support,” said Revathi, who is an aspiring psychologist.

Revathi believes her focus on punctuality and her habit of going to bed early and starting her days early helped in keeping pace.