Another genius in our midst

Image from here.

Aren't we inspired that there is another genius in our midst?

At 13 years of age, Muhammad Haikal Abdulllah Zain scored A star for his 'O' Level Physics, Chemistry and Biology that he sat for last year in the International General Certficate in Secondary Education (IGCSE). This gifted education programme boy from Rosyth Primary School and NUS High School of Mathematics and Science has applied to the National University of Singapore to read medicine. He also sat for the 'A' level Maths paper and got an A.

For his PSLE, he scored 274 points out of 300 in the Primary School Leaving Examination. Now it seems that Haikal's younger brother may just follow his footsteps. Muhammad Farhan who is now a primary 6 pupil at Rosyth and similarly a Maths Olympiad like his elder brother, also scored three A stars and one A in the IGCSE exams last year. Now why would he need to take his PSLE this year anyway?

Born to housewife mother, Salha Abdat, 39, and a director of an engineering company father Abdullah Zain, 40, we do not know much else about this family though I sense that his dad is someone familiar in the Malay business community. Now, aren't we all interested on what the parents did to create such geniuses in their children? I hope Berita Harian, Suria and other oganisations will do something - a report, a tv programme, a radio talkshow, a community outreach seminar, a workshop - so as to create this education ripples or revolution in the community. It's too good to miss, and I can only suspect that it has to do with GD and many other strategies. For one, Haikal's interests include chess and computer programming. He also holds a Grade 8 certificate in violin and practises taekwondo, most of which are very pro-GD traits.

Since 'parents' is part of the equation for our children's academic performance, I'm sure we are interested to know what Madam Salha and Mr Abdullah Zain did right in their children's education department. Also, according to the report, Haikal was inspired by Ainan Cawley's ability in scoring a C for Chemistry at 7 years of age, that he felt he can also sit for the exams and get As. Now, that's what "idols" are for. If one boy (Haikal) is inspired by another (Ainan), we need more publicity for all the "idols" in our community, don't we?