At 96\, Karthyayani tops\, scoring a magnificient 98

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At 96, Karthyayani tops, scoring a magnificient 98

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The oldest student to write Class 4 literacy mission exam to keep studying

It was celebration time at the house of Karthyayani Amma at Muttom, near Cheppad, in Alappuzha district.

Karthyayani, 96, the oldest student to write the Aksharalaksham literacy examination conducted by the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority in August this year, has scored 98 marks out of 100.

The examinees were tested on reading, writing, and Mathematics. She scored 38 out of 40 in writing, and full marks in reading and mathematics. The results were published on Wednesday. Karthyayani told The Hindu that she was aiming at clearing the Class 10 equivalency examination. “I am delighted by the result. I would like to continue my studies,” she said. Her teacher Sathi K. said Karthyayani had qualified to enter the Class 4 equivalency course. “She is very enthusiastic about education and it reflected in the marks she scored. She is eager to continue her studies,” Ms. Sathi said.

Inspired by daughter

Karthyayani never went to school and worked as a domestic help.

She was inspired by her daughter Amminiamma to enrol for Aksharalaksham. Fifty one-year-old Amminiamma, a school dropout, has cleared the class 10 equivalency examination.

Karthyayani will receive a merit certificate from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a function at the State capital on Thursday noon, officials said.

Mr. Vijayan will announce the results of the examination and inaugurate the certificate distribution to the winners at the function. Earlier, Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group; Union Minister of State for Tourism K.J. Alphons; and others shared on social media a picture of Karthyayani appearing for the examination.

Aksharalaksham is a project of the mission to achieve 100% literacy. Of the total 43,330 examinees, 42,933, including 37,166 women, cleared the first phase of the examination. The pass percentage is 99.08.

Of the examinees, 8,215 belonged to the Scheduled Castes and 2,882 to the Scheduled Tribes. Palakkad district had the maximum number of successful candidates – 10,866. Thiruvananthapuram followed with 9,412 candidates.