Defying Poverty and Disability: Four Exceptional Students Secure GPA 5 in Secondary School Exams
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Four students have achieved a perfect Grade Point Average (GPA-5) in this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, overcoming severe financial hardship, physical disabilities, and personal loss. These students, highlighted for their resilience, now face the daunting challenge of financing their higher education despite their academic success.
Yasar Islam, a science student from Mymensingh’s Fulbaria upazila, secured a GPA-5 despite living with physical disabilities that restricted his movement since infancy. The son of a poor farmer, Yasar has been unable to walk independently or use his wrists, forcing him to write with his left fist. His parents consistently transported him to Palastoli Amirabad High School via wheelchair to ensure he could pursue his education. Yasar, who aims to become a doctor to serve the underprivileged, credited his success to his persistence and the support of his teachers.
In Rangpur’s Taraganj upazila, Limon Mia also secured a GPA-5 while balancing his studies with manual labor. The son of a day laborer living in a cramped, two-room shack, Limon often worked in fields to pay for his school supplies when his father could not find work. His school, Ikorchali High School, supported his efforts by waiving his fees. Limon, who aspires to study medicine, continues to face uncertainty regarding how he will fund his college education.
Zulekha Khatun, a resident of Nilphamari’s Syedpur upazila, achieved her academic milestone despite having no permanent home. Her family, currently residing on a relative’s land, often struggled to afford basic meals. To attend Lakhonpur School and College, Zulekha traveled five kilometers daily on a bicycle purchased with scholarship funds. Her principal, Rezaul Karim, noted that Zulekha maintained her academic focus despite recurring food insecurity and financial instability at home.
In Natore, Sejuti Islam achieved a GPA-5 while navigating the loss of her father, a former Palli Bidyut Samity lineman who died in a 2012 road accident. Living in a relative’s house with her ailing mother, Fatima Khatun, Sejuti is now concerned about her future as her family’s primary source of income—a small monthly stipend—is set to expire within a year. Despite the looming financial crisis and her mother’s chronic illness, Sejuti, a student of Natore Government Girls’ High School, remains committed to pursuing a degree in engineering to support her family.
These four students represent a broader narrative of resilience, though their stories underscore the significant economic barriers that threaten to stall their educational advancement. Educators and families are now calling for support to ensure these high-achieving students can continue their academic journeys.
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