Grade 11 pupil Mohammed Sayfullah Khan of Orient Islamic School who scooped first place, left, with Grade 10 pupil Blessing Nyatsanza from Walmer High School in Port Elizabeth, who took second place honours, and Grade 11 pupil Johara Naidoo from Ashton International College in Ballito, who claimed the third spot. Picture: Supplied
Grade 11 pupil Mohammed Sayfullah Khan of Orient Islamic School emerged victorious at the IIE’s Varsity College’s 9th annual National High Schools Quiz on Saturday at the institution’s Durban North campus.
This year’s contest, with close to 300 Grade 9 to 11 pupils from across South Africa, saw Mohammed eventually outshine seven finalists, earning him bragging rights as the smartest pupil in the land.
Facing some 300 complex questions in three rounds across six categories – current affairs, history, geography, science and nature, sport, and entertainment – Mohammed demonstrated not only an exceptional grasp of academic material but also a remarkable general knowledge and ability to perform well under pressure.
He walked away with a R10 000 cash prize as well as R10 000 for his school, and a further R5 000 for his proud teacher and coach, Rashida Asmal.
“I made sure to watch Al Jazeera News and Who Wants to be a Millionaire to gain important current affairs knowledge. I relied on Wikipedia for my interests in world history, science, and geography. Additionally, I actively sought out trivia questions and quizzes online to enhance my general knowledge in preparation for the quiz,” said Mohammed.
He plans on saving his winnings until he identifies a good cause to spend it on.
Grade 10 pupil Blessing Nyatsanza from Walmer High School in Port Elizabeth took second place honours. He was excited to fly on a plane for the first time, visit Durban, and experience his first hotel stay, in addition to his academic success.
Grade 11 pupil Johara Naidoo from Ashton International College in Ballito claimed the third spot.
All finalists, including the top three, received Samsung tablets and R2 500. Their teachers each received R500 retail vouchers.
“The response from schools across the country to this year’s quiz has been phenomenal. The IIE’s Varsity College National High Schools Quiz has achieved great success, with intense and exhilarating rounds culminating in the selection of only eight exceptional individuals. This initiative not only encourages learners to improve their general knowledge skills, which boosts confidence and improves academic performance but also ensures more productive and valuable screen time. It was an inspiring display of talent and determination, reminding us once again of the incredible potential of the nation’s youth,” said IIE’s Varsity College head of communications, Sarnelia Mandapalli.
Grade 11 pupil Mohammed Sayfullah Khan of Orient Islamic School who scooped first place. Picture: Supplied