Mamoni

Malda, June 19: Unlike most parents, Malati Mandal is worried though her daughter has performed well in this year’s Madhyamik examination.

A resident of Bachamari Colony under the Old Malda municipality, Mamoni Mandal has scored 625 in the Madhyamik examination conducted by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education.

Her performance is a cause of worry for her mother because she does not know how the meagre amount that she earns from working in a brick kiln can help her daughter continue her education.

Mother and daughter live in a room in Mamoni’s sister’s house, where they have been living since Malati lost her husband a few years ago.

“I had managed somehow till the Class X-level. I don’t know how I will be able to continue. I have heard that higher secondary education is quite expensive.”

Mamoni wants to take up science in one of the good schools of Malda town but poverty poses a hurdle.

The girl who has got “star marks” — above 75 per cent —from Bachamari GK High School located about 5 km from Malda town keeps busy cooking lunch while her mother works at the kiln.

“I want to study science but if I don’t get a chance, I will study arts and then go for English Honours. I want to be a teacher,” Mamoni said.

The 16-year-old, who has scored above 80 per cent in history, mathematics and work education, is sad that she has not fared well in English.

She has scored 57 per cent in her favourite subject. Mamoni has, however, decided to apply for a review of her paper.

The headmaster of her school Benoy Ghosh is proud that the school had a student like Mamoni.

He said her performance was expected and the marks she scored did not come as a surprise to him.“She was always a good student. We had waived her fees and also helped her with books. Many of the teachers would help her with her studies outside school hours without taking any money,” he said.

The first person to whom Mamoni rushed to with her marksheet was the “head sir”. “I asked her what stream she would take and where she would seek admission,” Ghosh added.

Chairman of the local municipality Bibhuti Ghosh promised to help Mamoni in whatever way possible.

“We will provide her tuition fees, books and fees for private tuition. Every year the Old Malda Municipality awards meritorious students within the civic body’s area. We think it is a good deed to stand by students like Mamoni.”