Fate of GPA-5 holder Jumara uncertain

She mainly studied during daytime as her poverty-stricken family could not afford kerosene to light a lamp at night. After all this, 16-year-old Jumara Akther from Prithimpasha village in Kulaura upazila did not give up hope. She has secured GPA-5 in the current year's SSC examinations, from the Science Group, from Ali Amzad High School.

But Jumara's day labourer father Shaher Uddin is now very worried about her enrolment in the college due to acute financial hardship.

The admission procedure may be started after the end of coronavirus but he is yet to manage money for her daughter's admission to a college, said Shaher, adding that he is now struggling to run the four-member family from his wages as he now gets job thrice a week due to Covid-19 outbreak.

"I have appealed to a number of my relatives and neighbors for extending their helping hands, but did not get any response from anyone yet," said an anxious Yarun Begum, wife of Shaher.

"Sometimes we have to pass our days half-fed but my two daughters never lose concentration in their study," said Yarun Begum.

Local resident Syed Ashfak Tanvir, general secretary of Robirbazar Club, said Jumara is the only golden GPA-5 holder in the school. She also secured golden GPA-5 in PEC and JSC examinations.

He further said as there is no electricity in the house of Jumara, she studied during daytime. Besides, her father has not much ability to buy kerosene to light a lamp so that she could study at night.

Tanvir added Jumara has been a bright student from her childhood. Bright future awaits her if she gets financial support for higher education.