Punjab: 13-year-old works as farm hand between her tests

BATHINDA: All of 13, a labourer’s daughter is taking an avid interest in online education. Like many others, Prabhjot Kaur is taking exams being held for students of classes VI to XII to test the efficacy of online learning. However, the Class VIII student of government elementary school, Ghumiara village in Faridkot takes the test braving the sweltering heat while working in the fields with her family.
So far, she has taken tests of Science, English and Maths which started on July 13 and will continue till July 21. While her two elder sisters take turns in supporting the family, Prabhjot works the fields regularly to help support her father Buta Singh.
One of her sisters is a student of Class IX in Government Senior Secondary School at the nearby Moranwali village. The eldest is pursuing BCom final year at Faridkot while the younger brother is in Class V in government primary school of the village.
The lockdown and Covid-19 crisis weighed heavy on the family. Buta Singh, 45, used to work in a marriage palace. When lockdown was announced, he lost the job and started working on the fields, earlier for wheat harvesting and later for paddy transplantation. Now that paddy transplantation is in its last stages, Buta Singh says will look for some other source of income. Through all the difficulties, Prabhjot’s interest in academics has not slackened.
“Prabhjot is very fond of studies. When the lockdown was announced, she was sad thinking that she would not be able to go to school now. She was elated when online classes were announced and used to borrow a mobile from her eldest sister to attend classes,” Buta Singh said.
On her part, Prabhjot is clear about the fact that her foremost responsibility is supporting her family through paddy transplantation. Still, she does not want to miss her online exams. “I attended many online classes and now wanted to know how I could learn through this new mode,” she said.
Buta Singh, who studied only up to Class 3 at the government school of Ghumiara village said, “I have the consolation of knowing that even though I could not get a good education, my daughters are now studying well and are responsible.”
A picture of Prabhjot Kaur helping her father in the fields went viral on Thursday and scores responded with good wishes.