Dubai: Her mother, a university student, is her inspiration. Her father, an army officer she never knew, died when her mother was just three months pregnant with her.
But 18-year-old Emirati Alia Majid Ebrahim Al Mutawa has surmounted adversity and scored 99.9 per cent in her Grade 12 exams, the highest in the UAE. She is one of two students who scored the highest.
A homemaker, her 36-year-old mother Sajida Ali Al Jabri, raised Alia and her elder sister on their father's pension.
The harsh realities of life, however, did not stop Alia from emerging the UAE topper in the Science stream. It instead inspired her to give her best, she says.
As the toppers of the public schools grade 12 exams were announced Sunday by the Ministry of Education, their home in Nad Al Hammar was filled with joy.
"My mother is my greatest inspiration. She got married at the age of 16 and after losing my father to illness, she went through schooling from Grade 1 to 12 and is now in university," Alia said. Alia, who attends the Sakina Bint Al Hussain Secondary School in Dubai, scored 799 marks out of 800.
The Ministry of Education announced top scorers Sunday, but the full results will only be announced Monday, officials said.
Overwhelmed
The other Science stream topper who also scored 99.9 per cent is Mohammad Naseeh Al Siraj of the Mohammad Bin Hamad Al Sharqi Boys School in Fujairah. He hails from Syria.
Egyptian Monallah Ahmad Tawfiq of the Rashid Al Saleh Private School in Dubai emerged the UAE topper in the Arts stream with 99.8 per cent. There are 724 public schools across the country, and about 32,000 students appeared for the grade 12 exams in June.
Results include some private schools as well, which follow the Ministry of Education curriculum.
Overwhelmed with joy and excitement, Al Jabri said her daughter has always topped her class in school and that she expected the marks. She is yet to find out how she lost one mark, since the detailed marks have not been released, the mother said.
Al Jabri is studying at the Sharjah University for a bachelor's degree in Islamic Studies. She is from Hyderabad in India and came to the UAE in the 1990s after her marriage.
"Three years after my father's death my mother decided to join school," Alia said, adding that she owes her success to her mother. He sister Fatima is studying Environmental Health at Zayed University.
"I hope to take up Energy Engineering in America or Australia," she said, adding that she is waiting for her scholarship to be approved.
"I can't express my feelings enough," she said.
Dubai ruler orders scholarships
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice- President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sunday ordered that scholarships at universities and colleges be granted to the 20 top students in the General Secondary School Certificate.
Shaikh Mohammad’s initiative was announced by Humaid Al Qutami, Minister of Education.
Al Qutami said Shaikh Mohammad’s directives would be implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and other relevant authorities in the country.
Earlier, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid received a copy of the names of the top 10 students from Al Qutami.
Shaikh Mohammad congratulated the students, and wished them success in achieving their aspirations and ambitions, and in achieving higher levels of education to serve their nation and society.
Following are the names of the toppers:
Science stream
Alia Majid Ebrahim Al Mutawa: 99.9 per cent, Sakina Bint Al Hussain Secondary School, Dubai
Mohd Naseeh Al Siraj: 99.9 per cent, Mohd bin Hamad Al Sharqi Boys School, Fujairah
Husam Kamal Mohd: 99.8 per cent, Abu Tamam Secondary School for Boys, Fujairah
Tayyiba Magdad Al Ziyoori: 99.7 per cent, Manara Private School, Abu Dhabi
Batul Nader Al Rifai: 99.7 per cent, Umm Amara Secondary School for Girls, Sharjah
Omar Najdi Al Lawindi: 99.7 per cent, Al Khalil bin Ahmed Seondary School for Boys, Sharjah
Noor Towfiq Al Shamma’a: 99.6 per cent, Al Ahliya Khairiyah Girls School, Dubai
Fahad Ali Al Hafeethi: 99.6 per cent, Abu Tamam Secondary School for Boys, Fujairah
Nagam Yaseen Allami: 99.6 per cent, Shurooq Al Khasa Private School, Dubai
Monallah Ahmed: 99.6 per cent, Al Wardiya Private School, Abu Dhabi
Rafat Mohd Al Baweena: 99.5 per cent, Al Ameer Secondary School for Boys, Umm Al Quwain
Lameez Bilal Awadh: 99.5 per cent -Palestinian Secondary School For Girls, Abu Dhabi
Aasim Mohd Al Qarkari: 99.4 per cent, Mohd bin Hamad Al Sharqi Boys School, Fujairah
Art Stream
Monallah Ahmed Towfiq: 99.8 per cent, Rashid Al Saleh Private School, Dubai
Maitha Jasim Al Redha: 99.6 per cent, Rashid Al Saleh Private School, Dubai
Asma Ahmed Ahmed: 99.4 per cent, Ajman High School for Girls, Ajman
Shatha Ashraf Ali: 99.3 per cent, Umm Al Mu’mineen High School for Girls, Fujairah
Marwa Mohd Al Antali: 99.3 per cent, Dibba Al Fujairah High School for Girls, Fujairah
Asma Imad Wad’athalla: 99.3 per cent, Umm Al Mu’mineen High School for Girls, Fujairah
Amira Adel Badr: 99.3 per cent, Umm Al Mu’mineen High School for Girls, Fujairah
Fatima Abd Rahman Al Mousa: 99.2 per cent, Sabaheeya High School for Girls, Ras Al Khaimah
Hamda Saeed Al Jabri: 99.1 per cent, Umm Al Emarat High School for Girls, Al Ain
Radwa Hassan Al Moujood: 99 per cent, Ashbal Al Quds High School, Abu Dhabi
— With additional inputs from WAM
