45-year-old woman clears Class 10 after 22 years, son helped her chase her dream
For most students, parents are their first teachers. For Renu Hans, her son became her teacher. At 45, Renu, a speech- and hearing-impaired Kashmiri Pandit woman from Jammu, cleared her Class 10 board examination with 82 per cent, 22 years after her first attempt.
Her son, Naman Koul, himself a Class 12 Science student, helped her study, clear her doubts and prepare for the exam. Renu first appeared for her Class 10 exam before marriage but could not clear it.
Marriage, family responsibilities and her speech and hearing impairment left her education unfinished. After a 22-year career gap, Renu decided to give her Class 10 exam another shot.
She appeared for the JKOS bi-annual board examination in April, with the results announced on September 10. This time, she did not just pass, she scored 82 percent, finally turning her long-held dream of completing her education into reality.
Renu’s only son, Naman, became her biggest supporter. A Class 12 Science student himself, he helped his mother prepare for the exam, teaching her after school and clearing her doubts at night.
Speaking about his mother’s dream, Naman said he wanted her to move beyond being confined to the house. “I felt that my mother should not be confined to the house. If she studies, she can move forward in life. “She always dreamt of studying and getting a good job,” Naman told news agency PTI.
Naman said his mother had carried the dream for a very long time, and completing Class 10 was the first step towards fulfilling it. Renu often saw her friends and colleagues working and wondered why she could not do the same.
Naman said Renu often saw her friends and colleagues going out and working, which made her wonder why she could not do the same. She eventually shared these thoughts with him, marking the beginning of her second attempt at education.HE WENT FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL FOR HIS MOTHER
Naman initially knew little about how his mother could return to formal education. He approached different schools to find a way to get her enrolled. Eventually, he reached the JKOS office and learnt about the open-schooling scheme.
“I tried going to different schools to find out about it. Later, when I went to the board, I came to know about a scheme called JKOS - Jammu and Kashmir State Open Schooling. So, I filled out Mumma's form, paid the fees and got her enrolled,” he said.
The process was not straightforward. He was initially told that the scheme had been discontinued. Later, following developments in the scheme, the family was finally able to get Renu registered.A CLASS 12 STUDENT BALANCED HIS OWN STUDIES WITH HERS
Naman had his own Class 12 Science syllabus to complete. Yet, every evening, he made time for his mother.
“Whenever I returned from school in the evening, I would give Mumma some time. Along with managing my own studies, I also helped her with her studies. I would clear any doubts she had,” he said.
For Renu, having her son as her tutor meant more than simply having someone explain lessons. It meant having someone who believed she could do it.SHE WAS NERVOUS WHEN SHE ENTERED THE EXAMINATION CENTRE
Naman recalled that Renu was initially nervous about appearing for the exam alongside students much younger and older than her. However, she gradually became comfortable and completed all her papers, scoring 82 percent.
Naman said the result brought happiness to the entire family, with relatives and friends congratulating Renu and blessing her.A FAMILY THAT KEPT MOVING FORWARD
Renu’s achievement is also the story of a family that overcame displacement, disability and financial hardship.
The family migrated from Kashmir Valley to Jammu in the early 1990s and now lives in a government flat in Lower Roop Nagar. Renu’s husband, Bablu Koul, who is also speech and hearing impaired, earns a living through tailoring from home.
Despite their challenges, the couple remained determined to educate their son. Now, he has returned that support by becoming his mother’s teacher.‘SHE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID’
Naman said his father also stood firmly behind Renu's decision to continue her education. “My father gave her his full support. There was no anger or objection from his side. He told her that even if she wanted to work, he would stand by her. She should not be afraid and should always remain confident,” Naman said.
Those words of encouragement, combined with Renu's determination and her son's constant support, helped turn a 22-year-old unfinished chapter into a new beginning.A MARKSHEET THAT MEANS MUCH MORE THAN 82 PER CENT
Renu’s 82 per cent is more than a number. It represents 22 years of waiting, an unfinished dream and a mother-son bond that turned studying into a shared journey.
At 45, Renu has proved that it is never too late to finish what you once started. For her son Naman, helping his mother clear Class 10 may be the most meaningful lesson of all.
