A visually-impaired girl scored straight As in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam, making her one of the few top scorers for 2016 – but credit must go to her parents as well.

Sofea Hani, 18, was afflicted with the disorder three years ago and her parents had to live separately so that her mother could look after her at a boarding school here.

Her businessman father Samidi Masani, 48, lives and works in Muar but rented a house here for Sofea’s mother so that she could take care of their daughter. She helps to clean and give eye medication to her daughter.

Samidi said that due to the disorder, both Sofea’s corneas were severely scarred and as a result her vision was blurred and extremely sensitive to light. “If not treated, it can lead to blindness.”

“I am proud that my daughter got 9As. She is also active in the school band,” he said at Sekolah Tun Fatimah yesterday.

Sofea said the condition affected her focus in class but she worked hard through revisions after school.

“Although I was advised by my doctor not to get involved in outdoor activities, I still play the flute in the band but in shady places during our daily practice,” said Sofea who wants to pick up French and be a lecturer.

Meanwhile, another top scorer Priya Kaur Jessy, from SMK Infant Jesus Convent, who scored 9A+s, said her secret to success were extra classes and constant discussions with her school teachers. “Setting aside my mobile phone for one year also helped.

“I have always prioritised my studies. Whenever I'm confused, I will get the respective teachers to explain,” she said. Her sister, 23, who scored 10As in her SPM previously, also helped out.

“My sister Manpreet, who is now pursuing her masters in chemical engineering and environment, has always been my idol.”

She added that it was also a blessing that her mother Usha Devi Tara Singh, 51, was also an English and History teacher at the school.

State Education Department deputy director Azman Adnan said a total of 1,015 candidates scored straight As and that the figure showed a drop of 84 candidates compared with last year.

He said 13 candidates scored straight A+s this year compared with 27 candidates in the previous year while the percentage of candidates obtaining straight As in SPM 2016 dropped slightly to 2.23% from 2.42% in 2015.

“This year, we managed to achieve the national level target of 5.10 points,” he said, adding that a total of 52,617 candidates registered for SPM 2016 in the state.

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by REBECCA RAJAENDRAM, WANI MUTHIAH, LEE CHONGHUI, CHAN LI LEEN, STEPHANIE LEE, NORBAITI PHAHARORADZI, SANDHYA MENON, and C.A. ZULKIFLE

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