To drive academic excellence in the young ones, the chairman of Topfaith Schools (TFS) at Mkpatak in Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom state, Dr Emmanuel Abraham, has instituted a N1.5 million price to promote the culture of academic excellence in the Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE).
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Uyo, the state capital, he paid special tribute to this year’s winner, Master Emmanuel Zekhome, who was awarded the trophy and the cash.
Dr Abraham, who doubles as chairman of Topfaith University (TU), noted that the excellent performance of his students in this year’s West African Examination Council (WAEC) was not a miracle but a painstaking and intentional approach by teachers, parents and the students combined to enhance such brilliant performance.
He recalled that other scholars from the school had already grabbed the cash prize in the past years, assuring that the school management would continue to spur them up for more academic laurels.
Abraham, an economist and expert in education, noted that out of 193 candidates presented by the school in 2024 SSCE, the first 40 students scored higher grades, while three students from the 40 candidates scored 8 ‘A’ s each from 9 subjects offered for the examinations.
He added that the second set of 9 students scored 7’A’s, the third set had 6 ‘A’ s parallel, while others scored 5 ‘A’s, which is eligible for university admission.
He said: “Our philosophy is that we always aspire to be on top because our faith is top. This is why we are called “TOPFAITH”. With that alone, we are poised to go up continuously.
“The SSCE for this year is much higher in performance than last year. The breakdown shows that the first 40 students, according to our assessment, did well.
“Out of this number, the first three students scored 8 ‘A’s each and one “B” because our students offered nine subjects each in the examinations. So, within the nine subject areas, three scored ‘A’ s parallel and one “B” each. Following them immediately is another set of 12 students scoring 6 “A”s parallel and three “B”s, and between 5 and “4”s are the rest of the students we presented for the exams.
“We presented 193 candidates for 2024 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE). The students were intentionally groomed to achieve these scores. This intention will gain momentum because, from the media, I read that the University of Calabar this year is using grade points to screen JAMB candidates for admission. This means that by the time you have 9 or 8 ‘A’s, it is something to remember that such students carried aggregate points of 10 in nine subjects. We will have five as aggregates,” he stated.
