Sisters hit the books after 20yrs to ace HSC
UNB
Natore: When there is a will, there is a way. This was proven once again by three members of a family from Natore - a mother, her son and her elder cousin who sat this years Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) examinations, reports UNB.
Mother Shahnaz Begum, 40, a candidate from Natore Mohila College, secured a better Grade Points Average (GPA) than her son. She obtained GPA-4.83 that is better than her son Rakib Amins GPA-3.67. Shahnazs elder cousin (paternal), Momota Hena, 42, however outdid both getting GPA-4.88.
Rakib Amin, 20, appeared in the exam from Natore Government Technical College, under Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) in Electronic engineering Trade while his mother (Shahnaz) and aunt (Momota Hena) from Natore Mohila College in Computer Operation Trade under same board.
Shahnaz Begum passed her Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination in 1995. From then she drew a line under her student life. But while helping her children with their homework, something was rekindled in her and she started studying again. Eventually she got herself admitted to the Natore Womens College, after being away from studies for 22 years.
Momota Hena, her elder cousin (paternal) and also her neighbour, soon followed suit. She had passed her SSC exam in 1993, so the break was even bigger for her. When the results were published on Sunday, the locals gathered outside Shahnazs residence and wholeheartedly congratulated all three as newly HSC-pass.
Shahnaz Begum still could not decide which was more unbelievable: passing the HSC hurdle with her son, or securing a higher GPA than him! Either way, it was the irrepressible human desire for learning that she insisted on highlighting.
Shahnaz also revealed her father, Hazi Shahjahan Ali, and her brother Kawser Ali came forward to help bear the costs after coming to know of her zeal for education.
She said she hope for taking higher education. Her expectation of taking higher education increased in this success. I want to take higher education if I got these opportunities she added. Momota Hena, cousin of Shahnaz, said she got encouragement from her brother and daughter to get back to studies and gaining the HSC degree. We did not take private tuition for scarcity of money, did not buy new book. Two sisters (Shahnaz and Momota are cousin-sisters) bought one set of books for both of us, not separates. My elder daughter gave money to fill up the exam form... she trailed off while recounting.
There is no better happiness than this, she added, with a sense of fulfilment.
As for Rakib Amin, he shrugged off coming third in the family by saying he couldnt be happier that his mother and khala (aunt) passed the exam with better results than him.
