Thiruvananthapuram: God’s own land-Kerala is the most literate state in the country and this literate state is not ready to let anyone move its cheese.
But, there are some women, who bound by traditions and other factors could never reach to the portals of school as young girls and at a time when their hairs have turned grey and their vision a little dimmer, these women decided to bring in revolution in their own lives.
Even as their grandchildren smirked and joked at them, they decided to appear for 4th grade examination in Kerala, transforming themselves as far more empowered women.
Of 2.5 lakh candidates who took the exam, 70% were above 50, making Kerala the first state in India to accomplish total primary education.
For Najeeba (50), education was something that she always yearned for all her life, but marriage, children, home-making and allied responsibilities always compelled Najeeba to push her personal wishes to the backseat.
Today, after perusing her dream, she beams of confidence as she says that she can read the boards on buses, can travel all alone in those buses, read and write Malayalam, read story books of her choice and most importantly, she can write English.
Aneesa (59) is all smiles as well because now, she does not need anyone to fill her documents at the bank.
“I do it myself. I have transformed myself and my family is happy for me,” she says.
Over 20,000 volunteers who toiled for the success of the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority are the true winners, for it was their dedication that drove the mission of educating people from age group of 15 to 104 years.
Speaking about the experience one of the volunteers is quoted in NDTV saying how her ‘students’ do not come to classes completing their homework.
“They have families to take care of and hence they would never come to classes finishing their homework. Many would forget what was taught. It was tough but at the end of the day all the hardships are paid off when I see them read on their own and write without hassles,” NDTV quotes Fathima, a 27-year-old trainer.
“We won’t stop at this. We will encourage people to clear their 7th and 10th equivalency exams too,” said Education Minister PK Abdu Rabb.
