Senior Reporter
shaliza.hassanali@guardian.co.tt
Razeen Samad could barely read when she married her husband, Yazeem Kium, in 2000. That secret remained with Samad for a year until she had to fill out an application form in the presence of Kium for a job as a store clerk.
“I couldn’t do it,” Samad said, referring to the form that remained blank.
“My secret was exposed,” Samad remembered, her voice dropping as she spoke to the Sunday Guardian on Friday.
The discovery made Samad feel inferior and eroded the little confidence that she had. It also opened her eyes to the reality that without an education she could not go far as a mother and woman.
More than two decades later, Samad, 41, a single mother of two, is ranked as one of the best students in her Adult Literacy Tutors Association (ALTA) class and regarded as a shining example in her Cunapo Southern Main Road, Sangre Grande community for her perseverance and dedication to improve her learning skills.
She has also been encouraging women not to give up on their offspring.
Samad is viewed in her rural community as a role model and an amazing and supportive mother to her children.
“Yes, the community looks at me as a role model … as a single mother who always tries for the betterment of my children.”
Margaret Mc Leod, who taught Samad at ALTA, described her as enthusiastic and always willing to learn to empower herself.
“Razeen is a top student who always answers all the questions. She has a long way to go,” said Mc Leod.
She said Samad had been improving herself for the sake of her children who had already made her proud with their academic prowess.
Samad works as a temporary labourer with the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.
The eldest of five children, Samad went through seven years at the Tunapuna Presbyterian School without learning to read. She was barely able to write her name.
Single mom Razeen Samad
When she wrote the Common Entrance examination at age 12, Samad knew her chance of passing was slim. Her fears were realised when she failed the exam.
“I did not want people to know I couldn’t read and write. I was afraid that the world would know my secret.”
Unable to move on to a secondary school, she was enrolled by her parents in a private vocational institute for girls which she had to leave after her family found themselves in financial difficulties.
“After that, my parents signed me up for a sewing class,” she recalled.
That too didn’t work for her.
“Using the measuring tape was problematic especially when I had to add and subtract numbers. It was a stressful and embarrassing situation until I left.”
For most of her teenage years, Samad remained at home looking after her younger siblings.
Eventually, she met Kium, and in 2000 they tied the knot and moved to Sangre Grande to live.
“Even when I got married my husband didn’t know I couldn’t read. One day he carried me to apply for a job as a clerk and I couldn’t fill out the application form.”
Samad was ridiculed by people who meant the world to her.
“I was tormented,” Samad said, bursting into tears. “I couldn’t take the taunting. It humiliated me.”
Ashamed of her learning disability, Samad joined ALTA to improve herself.
“At first, I was embarrassed to enter the class because of my predicament. But then I got adjusted knowing that I was not alone in this. There are other people just like me.”
But the classes were short-lived as Samad got pregnant with her first child Reyana. Then her son Aleem followed.
Samad said she became a committed mom to her children and eventually enrolled in parenting skills classes at their primary school which offered a reading and writing programme.
“This helped me to assist my children with their schoolwork. I can’t leave my children. I am always at their side and in school because I realise the value of their education and what it can do for them.”
Samad said her hard work has paid off as last year Reyana was the recipient of a National Bursary award under the National Bursary Programme based on her outstanding excellence in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination.
Reyana, who is studying to become a medical doctor, was one of 355 children who received the award from the Education Ministry.
She was also one of five students of SWAHA Hindu College in Sangre Grande to cop the award.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Samad signed up with ALTA for online classes again.
“I have been participating in online classes for three years and making strides.”
So much so, ALTA recently selected Samad to read one of her essays at the Botanical Gardens.
This was one of Samad’s proudest moments.
“I am standing strong knowing what I did for my children and myself God has great things in store for me.”
Samad said once she completes all her courses at ALTA, she wants to pursue O’Level English to teach people who lack reading and writing skills.
“I want to render assistance to people especially those who fell through the cracks in the education system.”
For Samad, the sky is the limit.
