Maharashtra: Mother, daughter clear Class X exam together

Mumbai: A 43-year-old homemaker in Mumbai, who appeared for Class X examination along with her 16-year-old daughter this year, is elated after both managed to pass it together.

Sarita Zagade, mother of two girls, who appeared for her first ever Secondary School Certificate (Class X) examination in March, has scored 44 per cent marks, while her daughter Shrutika scored 69 per cent. The results were declared on Monday.

A resident of Wageshwari Nagar in Sewri, Sarita had to drop out of school after Class 4 due to financial constraints.

"I was not able to complete my education. I was in Class 4 when my father died. We were four sisters and one brother. Sisters then got together to earn money to run the household," she said.

Sarita joined a night school in Class 8 after her husband Vishwanath, who works with the Tax Appellate Tribunal, motivated her to continue education.

"Initially, I was very scared to go back to school after almost 35 years, but my husband motivated me. I thought of giving it a shot and told him I would continue only if I liked it. Within just a few days, I began loving it," Sarita said.

Sarita's elder daughter Kshitija also appeared for the Higher Secondary Education (HSC) examination this year and scored 48 per cent marks.

All three of them studied together, juggling between studying and household chores according to their exam schedules. The three of them were assigned different examination centres.

"As I was the eldest one in the exam hall, everyone seemed to be looking at me and I realised that they weren't used to older people in the exam hall," Sarita added.