I am very pleased for my fellow somalian sister, I myself achieved 10 A - C GCSE's and currently studying at University of the West of England. I am really dissapointed to hear these ridicilous statistics, because i am sure there are more then just a third of somali youths achieving. all the best !

Mohamed Abdullahi, Bristol,

Martin, you have missed the point completely. This is one young woman who WILL not be on benefits for the rest of her life. More stories like this should be in the papers: she is a role model for all young girls, especially those who are generally the ones who flounder in the education system.

Susaannah , Amsterdam,

I’m the headteacher of Naima’s old school & I’m delighted by her success. But our teachers don’t hold students back. All 7 Yr 13 Somali students here have just secured university places to read for degrees including biomedical science, bioveterinary science, pharmacology, politics & public health.

Rosemary Leeke, London NW1,

well done naima you have achieve something can inspire a lot somalis specailly single mother they can do it and you prove it keep up hard work.i hopea lot of themwill follow ur footstepp........

hasan, london, Great britan

I don't get where the hardship or great achievement is.

1. She has a home given to her. The rest of us have to earn money to put a roof over our heads.
2. She has two parents nearby. Many don't even have them alive.
3. They provide free childcare for her. Most people don't get that.

So what?

Laura Roberts, London, UK

"Only a third of Somali pupils in London got five GCSEs at grade C or better last year"

cheap statistics always brought in on everyhting

Look for urself I am somalian and i achieved 11 A*-C and there are probably more than a third if you keep looking.

it is all about diligence, not race

ALI, London, England

As someone who lives close to the school I am very disappointed to hear this young women's experience of the school. However, I do not think it refects the majoirty of students' views. Yes there are issues at the school. Yes there are tensions in the community. But look at the improving GCSE results

Michael, NW1 London,

I'm very pleased for this young lady and I think she's an inspiration to other people in her position and lazy, disruptive kids around her. But it would be nice if she had been a little less scathing about her school, which despite its faults, was ready to welcome her when she was in need.

Jane, London, England

Martin, LONDON

Is it not better that this young woman is actually learning and being educated rather than being a young mum on benefits for the rest of her life, typical of the young British girls in todays society that have no ambition. This girl may be an IMMIGRANT but does it matter. Well done

Jean, London, UK

Well done Naima. I'd like to help you buy textbooks when you get your medical school place. You are an inspiration, and you can do it. Good luck. Try the Royal Free, just up the road from you....

Patricia, Oslo,

Naima's experiences will hopefully inspire women of similiar socioeconomic status to fight for an education, and not settle for anything less. An education provides more opportunities to become a strong, independant woman that has the ability to support her family. Crawl back under your rock Martin.

Roberta, New York, USA

Well done, beautiful girl with inner strength and aspirations.
Naima your story is truly an inspiration and I really do hope you make it. I am certainly looking forward to the follow up of your present story. From A level all the way to MBBS.

Good luck we’ll be with you and much love.

Farah, London, UK

My son, who went to an inner london state school, said much the same thing. Instead of showing pupils the correct way to do something they were told that it doesn't matter. It was like they didn't expect any pupils to have ambition.

Any ambition that was shown was soon quelled by the teachers.

kim, london,

im sure there are many other stories like this, why this woman in particular? Is this a message to all those single parent mothers

ALL immigrants who have come here have had to work harder than those already here....

C. Kroustis, London,

Congratulations and well done to the young lady who strived and achieved despite the obstacles. i for one wish you all the best and have every faith in your ability to achieve what you set out to achieve.

as for the haters, moaners and whiners, either put up with it or shut up!!!

Sayid Somal, London , UK

Naima is good example to our young people and I hope they will learn from her. I wish Naima and her family all the best and InshaAllah you will reach your dream. We should also be grateful to others that have welcomed their homes to us(somali) and helped us achieve better lives.

Ifrax, Georgia, USA

That's 1 asylum seeker out of around 300,000 in the last 5 years?

Well done and all, but did it need to be in the papers? I'm assuming she has social housing, child benefits so surely a more noteworthy achievment would be a working mother not on benefits doing a part time degree?

Martin, London, ENGLAND

Extraordinary people like Naima who despite adversity succeed is not surprising. Upsetting?

"..I came to England & joined a class of more than 20 pupils trying to annoy the teacher. They had no respect for the teacher...It upset and demotivated me." etc.. What a sad indictment.of a UK school!

Angela, Cambridgeshire, UK

Mark@Leeds - sorry to hear your cinycism. Her achievement should be applauded&encouraged so MORE disadvantaged youngsters/adults can do well&become good role models. She is a positive example even for our kids who take everything for granted and dont appreciate the opportunities we have in the UK

Mohammed, Peterborough, England

Excellent story I wish Naima all the best she is truly an inspiration to all those that strive rom hardship

David, London, UK

Well done to this inspirational young woman.

Our educators *must* recognise that high expectations are everything. How much longer must children endure the patronising pats on the head from the privileged people who don't think others can benefit from the education they had themselves?

Lyn, Birmingham, UK

This success does show that determination, despite the odds, will win through, but it also says that the College system does in fact work and is flexible enough to allow for achievement to all.
A hearty well done to Naima to to City of Westminster College.

Robin, London, London

Good luck and Blessings to her!
She obviously has a great deal of inner strength and intelligence and I am glad she has had the opportunity to study here in Britain.
It is women like her that hold the key to the enlightenment of humanity,

epona, Swindon, UK

This is brilliant. This is good. Naima is and will stay as a star to all the other Africans in UK.

Congratulations to her.

JB, Hargeisa,

@Mark from Leeds
What exactly does it go to show? That depsite the sorry state of schools in the UK, she has made a success of her life. I certainly hope that is what you are insinuating.

MM, Vienna,

As I've said elsewhere, the opportunity exists and what you cannot learn at school can always be filled in by good use of libraries.

Tina Jones, Dusseldorf, Germany

One example of an asylum seeker doing good and it makes the papers!!! Just goes to show really!

Mark, Leeds,

I applaud this young woman and her success. Her experience helps to highlight the tragic lack of ambition among British youngsters, who feel entitled to things they haven't earned. I wish Ms Sharifdahir all the best in the future, and I hope her peers see her for the superb example she is.

Stephanie, Bristol, UK