The news of 56 percent of students making it through the intermediate exams from the Lahore Board and similar results from other boards is welcome. It reflects a steady improvement over the years and bears proof of the steps taken to promote education in the province. Not only that, an outstanding trend of students from poor backgrounds staying put in the face of adverse social circumstances to get top positions is picking up momentum. Among the toppers, a student hails from Gujranwala where he works as a welder, another from Multan slogs away in a restaurant doing the dishes; these two brilliant individuals have shown that hard work and dedication defeat all odds. They do not merely deserve oral praise but one expects the provincial government to see to it that from now on their educational expenses are taken care of. Meanwhile, another topper in the pre-medical group refused to receive the gold medal to protest against a fake FIR lodged against his father by IG motorways. The case needs thorough probe. Pakistan is among those few nations around the world with a large young population that in the years to come will positions of powers in various spheres of life. While it is very much satisfying to see Punjab initiating a number of reforms, it is hoped that this change would come about in rest of the country as well.