Grandmother defies age, clears Class XII exams in Meghalaya

Lakyntiew Syiemlieh, a 50-year-old grandmother from a remote village in Meghalaya, who dropped out of school 32 years ago, defied the age barrier and cleared her Class 12 board examinations, this year.

The results of the Meghalaya board’s Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSLLC), Arts stream, were announced on Monday. 

“I am so happy to have cleared the examinations,” Lakyntiew told PTI.

She was the oldest student in her class and would proudly wear the school uniform to attend her classes at Balawan College in Ri- Bhoi district for two long years.

But, she is far from being contended. She wants to pursue higher studies with vernacular language as her major subject.

Responding on why she dropped out of school in 1988, Lakyntiew said she did so as mathematics was a headache for her. 

“I stopped going to school because mathematics was too difficult for me to understand. I was offered a job to teach preschoolers in 2008 and that was the beginning of my love for re-learning,” she said.

In 2015, she took up a distance education course offered by IGNOU. She pursued a course after a gap of 26 years to retain her post at SSA School, where she used to teach.

“I was happy because mathematics was not included in the IGNOU course,” she said.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya’s Minister Lahkmen Rymbui congratulated Lakyntiew for her achievement. 

“Age is not an issue when one is in search of education. Lakyntiew Syiemlieh is an example for everybody and especially those who give up studies midway. I congratulate her and appreciate her hardwork and dedication,” Rymbui said.