Malala Yousafzai secures top marks in British school exams

London, Aug 21: Teenage Pakistani female education rights activist Malala Yousafzai, who survived a Taliban assassination bid in 2012 and became the youngest recipient of a Nobel peace prize, has secured high marks in UK's national school exams.

Malala's dedication to her studies has paid off, according to her father Ziauddin Yousafzai, who tweeted that the 18-year-old had achieved six A grades, the highest possible, and four As, the second highest, in her O-level exams.

"My wife Toor Pekai and I are proud of Malala getting 6A*s and 4As. #education for every child," wrote Yousafzai.

Malala was shot by the Taliban after writing a diary about life under their rule in North-West Pakistan. Last year, she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

She was declared joint-winner along with India's rights activist, Kailash Satyarthi. Malala, who now attends Edgbaston High School in Birmingham, achieved particularly well in the sciences, with top A* grades in biology, chemistry and physics - as well as in religious studies.

She also scored As in history, geography, English language and English literature. Malala first came to public attention through her anonymous diary, published on the BBC's Urdu website, which chronicled her desire to remain in education and for girls to have the chance of an education.

At the time, scores of girls' schools were being destroyed by militants in the Swat valley where she lived.

She survived being shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in October 2012 and was eventually flown to the UK for treatment and rehabilitation. The assassination attempt sparked a national and international outpouring of support for her.

On July 12, 2013, on her 16th birthday, she spoke at the UN to call for worldwide access to education. The UN dubbed the event "Malala Day".

Meanwhile, Pakistani media has showered on Malala with praise for her excellent results.

"Nothing that Malala Yousafzai achieves seems startling anymore but she continues to make Pakistan proud," the Express Tribune wrote.

Among those in Pakistan congratulating Malala was her friend Aseefa Badari, the daughter of the Pakistan People's party chair, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

PTI