Blind student in Lower Dir shines in matric exams

Intikham Alam Jan used audio books to prepare for the papers

PESHAWAR: Despite being blind, Intikham Alam Jan from Maidan, a village nestled in the hills of Lower Dir, has emerged as one of the toppers in Malakand's matriculation examinations.

He secured the top position among boys by obtaining 899 marks out of a possible 1,100 and the fourth position in the arts group among all students who sat for the exams.

Jan told The Express Tribune that he completed his primary education from grade one to five at a school in Mardan.

He aspires to become a resource teacher in English language one day to serve students with special needs.

Against all odds 

When he started out in school, Jan's brother would help him memorise his course books to appear in the exams.

"It was hard for me to study these books as there were no facilities in the secondary school for people with a disability like mine," Jan lamented.

He implored the government to establish educational institutes which would help students with special needs.



Jan said he had bought audio books to prepare for the papers.

"I appeared for the exams as a private candidate as there aren't any higher secondary schools in the area," Jan added.

"An eight grader would write down the answers for me as I would dictate it to him under the watchful eye of the invigilator."

Jan has eight siblings and one of his brothers is also blind.

"All of the expenses for my education have been borne by my father and we belong to a middle-class family," Jan added.

When asked about his future plans, he said he would like to be admitted to the Islamia College Peshawar for further education.

"Blindness is not my weakness, however, it hurts me when I see that the government has no facilities in place for disabled people ," Jan said.



Mohammad Javed, Jan's father, said that he was proud of his son's achievement.

"My son worked day and night in the month of Ramazan to achieve this position," he added with pride.

But he is disheartened that the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Malakand did not give any incentives to his son.