At the age of 96, Karthyayani Amma from Alappuzha district, Kerala, topped the Kerala Literacy Mission Exam this year with 98 per cent marks, setting a new record. Karthyayani Amma scored 38 out of 40 in writing, and cent per cent in reading and maths, to outperform 43,330 students who appeared for the exam.
She will receive a merit certificate from the state chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, today at CM’s Conference Hall. When the media asked her how the exams went on the day she took it, she had replied: “I learned so much for no reason. The tests were way too easy for me.” Karthiyaniamma was a cleaning staff in local temples. She was motivated to learn when her 51-year-old daughter passed the tenth equivalent examination in 2016. Her next mission is to learn English and computer. After all, it’s never too old to learn.
The ‘Aksharalaksham’ project kicked off on Republic Day this year to achieve 100 per cent literacy in the state. The exam is conducted in five levels for Class IV, VII, XI and XII. Out of 43, 330 candidates, 42,933 students have qualified the examination.
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