Cape Town: Top academic achiever in the country, 19-year-old Rayyan Ebrahim, from Pinelands High School in the Western Cape, has expressed overwhelming pride and gratitude for being able to bag that honour.
According to South African Government News Agency, Ebrahim was announced as the overall top achiever by Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, during the official release of the NSC results on Monday evening.
Ebrahim’s stellar academic performance includes nine distinctions and an impressive aggregate of 97.57%. He achieved 99% in Further Studies Mathematics (Standard), 100% in Physical Science, 97% in Mathematics, Computer Applications Technology (CAT), and Afrikaans, as well as 98% in Accounting.
Pinelands High School celebrated Ebrahim’s accomplishments in a Facebook post, highlighting that he placed in the Top 1% of candidates for Further Studies Mathematics (FSM) Standard (Calculus and Algebra) in South Africa.
The school stated that Further Studies Mathematics (FSM) is a rigorous academic subject administered by the IEB as part of the new IEB International Secondary Certificate and is certified separately from the NSC qualification.
He also obtained 95% A* in Further Studies Mathematics (Extended), Further Studies, 86% A in Mathematics – Matrices and Graph Theory and 99% A* in Further Studies: Mathematics Standard (Calculus and Algebra).
Speaking to SAnews, the top student described the moment his name was announced as surreal. He focused on going up to the stage in disbelief, overwhelmed and humbled by the recognition of his hard work.
Reflecting on his matric journey, Ebrahim admitted it was a challenging year, marked by high expectations and moments of self-doubt. He relied heavily on the support from his family and friends.
Ebrahim’s study routine involved early morning study sessions and the use of online resources, like study guides and YouTube videos, to tackle difficult concepts. He also tutored his friends in Maths, working through past papers together.
Looking ahead, Ebrahim plans to study Data Science at the University of Cape Town, drawn to the interdisciplinary nature of the field. He believes the course is relevant to South Africa’s future needs and aligns with his love for Mathematics.
Advising the matric class of 2025, Ebrahim emphasized consistent effort and a balanced life for success, encouraging students to work diligently and maintain a balance between academic and personal life.