Daffodil International School’s Benita Lesikwor Sackey has won three Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards (OPLA), a set of awards that recognise top-performing international students worldwide on a British Curriculum.
The young recipient stood out as one of the top winners of the OPLA Awards among more than 2,100 learners from 740 schools across 85 countries who sat the Pearson Edexcel exam in the 2024-2025 series.
She achieved the highest mark for all levels of the Pearson Edexcel qualifications.
The eleven-year-old scored the highest mark in the world for Pearson Edexcel iPrimary in Mathematics, the highest mark in the country for Pearson Edexcel iPrimary in Computing and the highest mark in the country for Pearson Edexcel iPrimary in Science, all in June this year.
The award ceremony, which was held in Accra, also saw Miss Sackey go home with three medals and a certificate, while the Daffodil International School, located in Tema, also received an award for excellence in nurturing young Pearson Edexcel learners.
The OPLA Awards is an annual award open to all Pearson Edexcel learners who sat for any Pearson qualifications at an internationally approved centre during an exam series.
It is awarded to international students worldwide who achieved the highest mark for all levels of Pearson Edexcel qualifications; iPrimary, iLowerSecondary, GCSE, International GCSE, A Levels, International AS/A Levels.
Appreciation
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Benita Lesikwor Sackey said her remarkable record was a testament to her hard work, dedication and passion for learning.
"I'm so excited and grateful to have received these awards. I want to thank everyone who helped me achieve this. I couldn't have done it without the support of my school, teachers and parents, who have been instrumental in my success,” she said.
She expressed hope that next year, she would be able to do better or replicate the same feat and have more of her colleagues join her on the podium as recipients.
Holistic learning experience
The Head of Academics at the Daffodil International School-Tema, Dr Akorfa Afi Adorble, expressed excitement and pride in the student’s accomplishment, crediting the award to the dedication of teachers, parents and the school community.
She said the award was a testament to the school's commitment to nurturing young minds and shaping the next generation of leaders.
Dr Adorble underscored the school's unique approach — focusing on holistic development, with core values of discipline, integrity and service.
"We don't consider just the academic aspect of a learner, but who they become holistically.
Our staff are dedicated to bringing up children in various aspects of their lives.
"We want our learners to be part of the process, to take responsibility for their learning.
Gone were the days when the teacher was the only authority in the classroom," she said.
Dr Adorble, therefore, urged parents to enrol their children, adding that the school looks forward to continued success and more awards, while helping learners reach their full potential.
