Odisha Women Prove That Age Is No Bar For Education

Bhubaneswar: Age is no bar when it comes to education. All one requires is will power. Two Odisha women, one nearing 50 and the other in her mid 30s, have set an example by appearing in the annual HSC examination this year.

Sanju Pattnaik (49) of Mahulalata village under Bonai Range of Sundergarh district was motivated on seeing her son study. “I had an inclination towards studies. My son suggested that I study and appear for the examination and I did that. If I clear the matriculation exam, I will study further,” said Sanju.

A second-time examinee, Rashmita Kisan (35) of Jamanakira in Sambalpur has ensured that she lives her dream. “I had appeared for the matriculation exam in 2002 but could not clear it. I feel education is important because it betters our skills and subsequently ourselves and the world we live in. I can do many things in life if I study hard,” she said.

Apart from that, for the first time, Divyang (differently-abled) students in Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Sundergarh and other districts of Odisha appeared for the HSC examination along with other students. Though the question papers were the same, these students were allotted 50 minutes additional time for a two-and-a-half hour-long exam and 30 minutes extra time for a two-hour examination.

Special arrangements were made by all the respective district education departments for them. They were made to sit in a separate examination hall. They were provided writers to help them write the exams.