Dubai student scores Gulf's highest grade in Indian exams

A Dubai pupil was overjoyed yesterday after learning he had scored the highest marks in the Central Board of Secondary Education Class X exams in the whole of the Gulf. Srikant Kelkar, a 15-year-old student at Our Own English High School in Dubai, achieved 96 per cent with an impressive aggregate of 480 marks out of a total of 500.

Sporting a big smile, he said: "At last I made it. The fact that I have actually come top in the entire Gulf is still a bit hard to believe." Srikant said he had never been a bookworm and had never compromised on his extra curricular activities.

"I hate the idea of being termed a bookworm. I was organised enough to give quality time to both study and socialising. More than anything else, I had the confidence in myself to be sure I would get a place in the top three rankings.

"But when I saw the photograph of the Indian High School CBSE class 12 topper featured in Gulf News, I just hoped that something similar would happen to me."

Hoping to repeat his recent academic feat in the higher secondary board exams in two years' time, Srikant noted: "I plan to pursue a career in mechanical engineering and there is no way I could get a place without a bag-full of good marks in my pocket.

"My aim is to secure a place with either the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology or any of the leading U.S. institutes. But right now it is party time along with my friends. A little break will do no harm and I think I have earned it."

Our Own English High School Dubai's principal, Madhav Rao, said the school was proud of Srikant's achievement. "He was always a good pupil and well on top of his studies and has lived up to all expectations," he said.

Meanwhile, schools in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain claimed 100 per cent pass results in the Indian Central Board of Secondary Education examinations for Class X, with girls continuing to do better than the boys.