KEF Students Achieve Outstanding Result in Federal Board Examinations

July 5th 2006: Students of the pilot project of the Kashmir Education Foundation (KEF), the Pearl Valley Public School (PVPS) in Rawalakot have achieved outstanding results in the Federal Board Of Matriculate Examinations by securing first position out of all schools registered with the Federal Government Board in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) district. Of the 17 students representing KEF's Pearl Valley Public School, 14 have secured A+ grades, while 3 have secured A grades in the matriculation examinations. On the whole, PVPS students have maintained a high class average of 84%, hence reinforcing the Kashmir Education Foundation's core belief that once given the opportunity, children belonging to impoverished classes can achieve great milestones if motivated well and imparted high quality education backed with state of the art facilities .

High achievers amongst this talented batch of KEF students include Momil Nazir who has secured second position in the AJK district with 960 marks and Taqdees Abrar who has obtained 959 marks, thus securing third position within the district. These students represent the second batch of matriculate students to graduate from The Pearl Valley Public School, which has maintained the unique distinction that all PVPS students, appearing for their matric examination since the last two years have secured 'A' or higher grades in the Federal Board examination.

Located in the Khirick village of Rawalakot, The Pearl Valley Public School- launched as a pilot project of The Kashmir Education Foundation in 1996, has opened new doors of opportunity for children representing the underprivileged strata of society. With classes up to GSCE level and an affiliation with the Federal Board of Education and the Aga Khan University Board, the Pearl Valley Public School caters for the educational needs of talented children from Rawlakot and surrounding villages. With a strong focus on high quality education, the Pearl Valley Public School now gives children hailing from the poorest sections of society the hope and confidence to compete with the best in the world by imparting activity based learning, research skills, technical know how and subject specific knowledge through a special curriculum designed on the British Educational System. At present, a large majority of PVPS students are studying on KEF scholarships ranging from 20% to 100%.

Congratulating PVPS on their excellent performance, the Foundation's Chairman, Major Gen (R) M. Rahim Khan said, "It is heartening to note the spirit and enthusiasm displayed by children studying in the Pearl Valley Public School towards their academic pursuits, which is a clear-cut indicator of the fact that these children have tremendous potential." He further maintained that with each passing day, the teachers as much as the students at the Pearl Valley Public School are engrossed in an exchange of ideas through a learning program that caters to the cognitive, moral, social and emotional needs of these children in an effort to enable them rise against the odds and emerge as successful individuals who can compete in leadership stakes with children of the elite.