A tale of SSC success: Beating all odds

Despite having all odds against her, Bobita Aktar Papia from Meherpur has come out victorious in the SSC examinations this year. Born with non-functional hands, Papia wrote all her exams with her right leg and passed, securing GPA 2.5 out of 5. Life has been extremely difficult for her; added to that is the poverty that plagues her family. Her mother, Arifa Khatun, said it had been tough to bear the expenses of her daughter's schooling because of poverty. Yet, Papia's indomitable spirit did not allow her to call it quits on her studies. She drew inspiration from her parents' struggle and stayed on course, appearing in the SSC examinations from Jhawbari High School. Papia with her mother Arifa Khatun Dhaka Tribune

Unexpected, but deserved

Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Papia said even she did not expect to do so well. "I was so happy after hearing my result... I could not decide how to react," she said. But her schoolteachers were confident about her success. “We had hope that Papia would pass the exams. She has overcome all odds because of her strong will,” said her teacher Tuhin Rezan. Now she is excited about the next phase in her education. "I am going to get admitted to a college," she said. Her mother said: “I will let her continue her studies so she can build a better life for herself." Papia dreams of becoming a teacher in future and educate underprivileged children. Meherpur has seen 81.45% pass rate in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations this year. A total of 5,829 candidates appeared in the exams from the district, of whom 4,748 passed the exams.