2 Rural School Students Top Year 13 Exam up North
Two rural-based schools recorded the highest marks in the Fiji Year 13 Certificate Examination in the Northern Division.
Its students, Deepak Kumar of Naikavaki College in Bua and Nitika Nandani of Nadogo Central College in Macuata, scored 376 marks out of 400.
They are from farming backgrounds, science students and were head boy and head girl of their respective schools.
Their secret to success was revising past year papers and studying in the early hours of the morning. Deepak, 18, of Vunivau, Bua, scored 88 in English, Mathematics 95, Physics 96, Technical Drawing 92 and Computer Studies 97.
Nitika, 18, of Lagalaga, Macuata scored English 92, Mathematics 95, Physics 96, Chemistry 93 and Biology 93.
She is the only daughter of a sugarcane farmer. She said she was confident to top the Northern Division since she studied diligently last year.
“I scored the highest for my school in the Fiji Year 12 Certificate Examination and then in the Year 13 annual exam, so I knew I would maintain my position,” Nitika said.
“I worked very hard because I want to become a doctor like my elder brother and look after my parents.”
She thanked her parents Narendra Prasad and Nileshni Devi for sacrificing every little thing so that she could focus on her education.
Deepak juggled studies and working on the rice farm with his parents Virend Kumar and Vinita Devi.
“I feel proud to score the highest marks for the school, but I am surprised to top the North,” Deepak said.
“I studied very hard because I want to become a civil engineer and to cater for the cost, I desperately needed for a scholarship.” The second eldest of three siblings thanked his parents, teachers, and friends for their support.
376/400 Deepak and Nitika scored in the Fiji Year 13 Examination