By Lakhram Bhagirat
“Getting to go back to school was really tough because I had my son and I had to divide my time between him and studying for exams. So when I saw that I did so good I was happy because it was really hard and the hard work and sacrifices did pay off,” says Viroshni Mithuram.
Viroshni is 18 years old and sat the 2018 CSEC examinations where she gained passes in 10 subjects (4 Grade 1s and 6 Grade 2s). But Viroshni’s situation is different from many of those who sat this year’s CSEC examinations as she is the mother of an almost three year old.
She was a student at the JC Chandisingh Secondary School in Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne) and while in Fourth Form she fell deeply in love, dropped out of school and got married. The marriage would only last a few weeks but by that time, she was already pregnant. Viroshni did not even contemplate an abortion and would later give birth to her son, Asir Tikka, who is almost three years old now.
After her marriage ended and subsequent childbirth, Viroshni took up employment at the Nand Persaud International Communications Center as a telemarketer. She spend six months there and during that time her Supervisor, Trainer and the Human Resources Manager were so impressed but her abilities that they began urging her to go back to school and complete her education.
“The Human Resource Manager and Trainer told me to go back to school because that it’s not a problem and then I decided to think about it. I went and asked my cousin and they said that I could go and my Trainer said it doesn’t matter if I have child that I can go back to school and that I should leave the job and I did,” she said.
After she left her job, Viroshni said that she wanted a new start to her school life so she opted to enroll at the Corentyne Comprehensive High School instead of her former Secondary School. She met with the Head Teacher, whom she described as very friendly, and was advised to contact the Regional Department of Education for approval.
With optimism and a pep in her step, Viroshni contacted the Education Department only to be met with what she described a “discrimination.”
“I called Sir Deno (only name given) at the Regional Education Department and he turned me down. He said that I am involved in big people activities and that I can’t go back to school and I should go private. He was discouraging me and I had a bad impression of him. I called the Trainer at NPIC and I told her what he said and she was shocked and she told me to go to the Ministry of Education and I went.” ‘
When she visited the Ministry’s Brickdam Office, Viroshni met with one of the Officers who questioned her as to why she wanted to go back to school and the reason for leaving in the first instance.
“I told her I have a son and she said okay. She asked where is the father and I said I don’t know and she said that hope this does not happen again and she wrote the paper up and signed me up for school.”
Viroshni said that she requested to be placed back in Fourth Form and the Officer granted that request. She attended her first class at Corentyne Comprehensive High on October 31, 2016.
Speaking about the treatment she received at the school, Viroshni related that it was exceptional since everyone was not bothered about her having a child and they treated her as one of their own. She said that attending school would not have been possible without the help of the MMP Foundation who sponsored her education.
Viroshni found it a bit difficult balancing the school work and caring for her son but noted that her parents would have assisted tremendously.
“I want to say to all the young girls out there that if you make a mistake don’t get down courage. Make sure you finish your education and make yourself somebody. Do your best and watch everything fall into place.”
For now, she is contemplating a Degree in Public Management. (Times Sunday Magazine)
