Despite having to trek muddy dams in mostly rain, a Yakusari, Black Bush Polder (BBP) girl topped her primary school at the last National Grade Six Examination (NGSE) leaving her family proud and in awe of her achievement.
Latchmi Singh, 11, of Yakusari South had to walk for 45 minutes each day on a dam to get to the Yakusari Primary School and 45 minutes back in the afternoon. However, she was able to top her school with 461 marks and gained a spot at the Berbice High School (BHS).
At her school’s graduation recently, Singh was awarded for being the top student, best in each of the four subjects, and spelling bee. Her proud grandfather and other relatives also bought trophies for her.
Her mother, Aneeza Rajpaul, 29, explained that they would pray for the rain not to fall so that Singh could be able to make it out of the dam. The young girl had to cross three bridges and several dams during her 45 minutes’ walk to school. “It would still be muddy (when it doesn’t rain) but I could able to carry her with the motorcycle but when it rains she has to walk most of the time.”
According to the mother, her daughter would often have to leave with her home clothes and school uniform in her bag. Once she arrives at school she then changes into her uniform and prepares for a day of learning. Rajpaul said when it rains she would also have to phone the teachers to inform them that her daughter will be late “but she does still determine to go and I does make sure she go and thank God the teachers are very understanding.”
While a young Singh thought this would be the hardest part of her primary school life, it wasn’t – Covid–19 then hit causing schools to turn to online learning.
But Singh resided in a community where only a few had internet access. Her mother yesterday told Stabroek News that they tried as much as they could with the data plan on the phone but it was not working out.
However, she said, that they then decided that even if they had to cut corners they would hook up to the private internet services (the only internet service) offered in their community. “We are poor but we had to do it for her because they had online classes”, the mother relayed.
She said, her daughter had always dreamt of topping her school but during that period they both began to worry whether this would still be a possibility. However, because of her daughter’s perseverance, she has made her dream a reality.
Meanwhile, according to the two, the internet service is not of the best as the signal goes off regularly but since it’s their only connection there is not much they could have done. “She just work hard and tried with it”, her mother said.
A young Singh, who will be celebrating her 12th birthday on Monday said, she always reminded herself to revise her work. “I studied a lot and my mom helped me a lot.”
She advised other students to do the same and “concentrate” on the work taught by their teachers.
She thanked her parents, teachers and other relatives for supporting her through her journey, as she said, that she just wants to celebrate Christmas with them at home.
Mock exams
After doing mostly online learning, Singh had to return to school to complete her mock examinations in preparation for her NGSE. However, that day the rain poured heavily causing the mother and daughter to have to walk to school in the rain.
The young mother recalled, that her daughter – skin soaked – went into the classroom and wrote the examination, while she sat outside and waited for her to take her back home. “I will never forget that day, her skin was soaked because we had to walk in the hard rain and go and she write that exam just so and I went outside and wait for her”, the mother noted. Rajpaul said she was so proud of her daughter’s determination and courage in that moment. The woman stressed that both she and her husband, Pooran Singh, 34, are extremely proud of their daughter. The couple also shares a younger son who faces the same challenges in attending school daily. Further, the couple said, that there are a number of students who reside in their street and would have to walk to school daily, adding, that they are hopeful that someday in the future works can be carried out on their dam so that they can be able to transport/drop their children to school in any weather condition.
“And sometimes a lot of the other kids have to miss school because their mothers have other children so they can’t just leave and take them but luckily I have my mother-in-law to watch my son when I take her.”
Meanwhile, according to the couple, while their daughter gained a spot at BHS she will be attending the Tagore Memorial Secondary School located in Number 63 Village, Corentyne.
Rajpaul said they thought long and hard about the situation and decided on that, “BHS is far, and there’s a bus that will pick them up and take them every day and collect them from Tagore so we decided to send her there and a lot of students from class pass to go to Tagore so we come together and decide that.”
Life in Black Bush Polder
Life in Black Bush Polder is much different than from other parts of the region, but according to Rajput, a Canje born, she prefers it. She said, that after she got married 13 years ago she relocated to Yakusari to start a family with her husband, and living there has made her appreciate the simpler things of life.
She said, “It’s a very quiet and nice place. We ride with tractors and boats and we live simple.”
She recalled, that during the flood earlier in the year they were stuck at home for months. According to her, the water was neck high in their area.
She said, in order to purchase food items and other stuff, a relative would have to transport one person from each household weekly out in a boat to make the necessary purchase after which they would return home.
While enjoying the “simple life” comes with its challenges, she is also hopeful the community will be greatly upgraded for the benefit of youths.
