Nonagenarian woman takes class IV exams

Fathima Beevi exuded confidence after writing the examination that she would pass the test with good marks, when the results are announced next month.

"Education is the greatest thing in human life. Both men and women need education to lead a meaningful life," the mother of three said. The nonagenarian woman was given special permission to write the exam, for which the age limit is fixed as 15 years to 50.

It was during a home-to-home survey that the literacy workers came across Beevi, a widow, and were moved by her deep interest in learning, Literacy Mission sources said. The rules were relaxed as a special case to allow her to appear for the four-hour exam which covered a combination of various subjects like Malayalam, arithmetics and basic social sciences.

Beevi said she had been preparing for the examination for the past four months and that she did well. She went to the exam hall with her son Abdul Hameed. The 'equivalent' examination is conducted for those who had to give up their studies or dropped out from early schooling.