Meet SA’s top-performing learner Rayyan Ebrahim

South Africa’s top-performing public school learner, Rayyan Ebrahim from Pinelands High School in the Western Cape, has attributed his success to the support of his parents and teachers.

For the second time in a row, the country’s top-performing matriculant was from the Western Cape. In 2023, Melissa Muller from Rhenish High School was the top-performing learner in the country and went on to study Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Stellenbosch.

RAYYAN EBRAHIM HONOURED FOR EXCELLENT RESULTS

Ebrahim was among the 39 learners who were invited by Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube for breakfast to celebrate their excellent results ahead of the official results announcement on Monday, 13 January. The top achievers were also honoured for their hard work.

In a Facebook post, Ebrahim’s school said he placed in the Top 1% of candidates for Further Studies Mathematics (FSM) Standard (Calculus and Algebra) in South Africa — a phenomenal achievement!

The school said 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.

Here are some of his results:

Further Studies Mathematics (Extended): 95% A*

Further Studies: Mathematics – Matrices and Graph Theory: 86% A

Further Studies: Mathematics Standard (Calculus & Algebra): 99% A*

Ebrahim told Independent Online that he usually studied in the morning because he was most productive, could focus and was most energetic.

Ebrahim said past papers, study guides and YouTube videos helped him a lot and in addition, he attended extra classes at school and also tutored his friends.

“I have this drive to push for excellence in everything that I do. The support from my parents, teachers and community members added to the affirmation that I could do well,” he said.

Matric is inarguably one of the most important grades in the South African schooling system as the results determine whether one meets the requirements to enrol in an institution of higher learning to further their studies. Most of the time, learners face many challenges, sometimes life-threatening but they emerge victorious.

Fortunately for Ebrahim he didn’t face any serious challenges, except feeling overwhelmed at times which he says he managed to overcome by affirming that his best was good enough and that all he was expected to do was his best.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MATRIC CLASS OF 2024?

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