The first day of a board examination often sees students battle nerves and Friday, which was the start of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exam, was no exception.
Some candidates, however, found it a little more stressful as they were returning to the classroom after a decade, if not more.
Homemakers, drivers and Group-D employees have been burning the midnight oil juggling work, family and everyday chores to prepare for the finals.
Kusuma Kumari, 32, who works as an attendant in a government school, came out of the examination hall on Friday with a grin on her face. She made a quick call to her study partner, her daughter, who also sat for the language but in another centre. “We would wake up at 5 a.m. and study for a couple of hours. Then I would head to work and she would go to school,” said Ms. Kusuma, a class 4 dropout.
She found the first language paper easy, but is a little nervous about mathematics. “But with my daughter’s help, I will sail through,” she added confidently. After clearing the SSLC examination, she says she wants to work as an anganwadi worker.
For 28-year-old Farina Afsheen clearing the SSLC examination could spell a brighter and more secure future.
Ms. Afsheen’s husband passed away recently and she has to fend for herself and her four children. “I got married when I was very young and did not end up studying. Although it was really difficult attempting to write after 16 years, I think it will be worth the hard work if I ultimately clear the exam and end up getting a good job,” she said.
Most candidates, like Ms. Kusuma and Ms. Afsheen hope that passing the exams will give them better career opportunities.
Manjunath, 52, is writing the exam to get a promotion. He has been working in the Central Reserve Police Force for the past 29 years, but is yet to be promoted.
“I want to ensure that I get at least one before I retire and clearing the SSLC examination will help,” he added.
