'Samosa' vendor's son clinches top spot in FSc from Malakand

[Devil Soul]

'Samosa' vendor's son clinches top spot in FSc from Malakand
By Basar Ali
Published: August 31, 2015

Shah Faisal receiving prize from his teacher. PHOTO: BASAR ALI/ EXPRESS

Reality can be much stranger than anything that fiction can muster, which is probably why none of us could have imagined how the son of a samoosa vendor from Malakand can top the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) examinations.

Shah Faisal, 18, bagged the top spot in FSc computer science group, results of which were announced on August 1.

But for all of his marks, all 869 out 1,100, the happiest moment for Faisal was the gleam that it brought in his father’s eyes after hearing about the result.

Faisal recounts that he was overcome with emotion when later his teachers from his school and college visited his house to congratulate him.

But road has not been this kind to the Malakand native.

While his father ensured that he attended school, after class, time was spent at the roadside establishment where the father-son duo sold ‘samoosas’ to feed eight family members.

Faisal’s remaining time is spent teaching kids in his village.

After passing his matriculation with flying colors from Government Higher Secondary School Chakdara in Lower Dir, Faisal applied in a number of colleges for enrollment in FSc. But the colleges only extended him admission on self-finance seats, fees for which he could not afford.

Not one to be discouraged, Faisal soldiered on and managed to get admitted inot Government Degree College Gulabad, Chakdara.

Armed with his marks, Faisal tried out for the Computer System Engineering Department at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET). There he secured 487/800 marks in the entrance test, 57th position.

But there is something else which worries Faisal more than his low scores in the UET entrance test, the struggle to pay high fees again. His, he says, has not been able to arrange the necessary funds for him to go to university.

But light may yet be on the horizon. Wasil Khan, who was recently elected to the local government, has assured Faisal of financial assistance. But much will depend on the final merit list of the university.

“My father has to look after eight family members, he works in the morning too in order to fulfill the family’s expenses and pay for our education.”

 

[punit]

respect .. to the achiever and his family !

 

[Jazzbot]

Hope govt will help him with higher studies expanses.

 

[[Bregs]]

his father must be a very proud man

 

[Stag112]

Will Pakistanis continue to call him samose wala even after he achieves great heights (and I hope he does) like they do for Modi?

 

[waleed3601]

But light may yet be on the horizon. Wasil Khan, who was recently elected to the local government, has assured Faisal of financial assistance. But much will depend on the final merit list of the university

Small things like these are why Local Government is a crucial part for effective governance, which unfortunately the feudal lords of Sindh never cared about until the Supreme Court banged on their heads.
Good thing KPK LG polls were held timely, hopefully the nazim Wasil Khan will help this bright child in his education.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Its story because the Youth's father was a Samosa wala.

Congrats to the Youth , and the father for getting his song thru school

 

[django]

Gems like this need to be nurtured.

 

[ghazi52]

Samosa seller’s son awarded Rs0.5m for academic excellence

Shah Faisal bagged top position in SSC, FSc computer science group. PHOTO: ONLINE

PESHAWAR: A cheque worth Rs0.5 million was awarded to the son of samosa vendor in Malakand who clinched top position in Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) examinations in 2015.

The amount was presented to Shah Faisal by Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Muhammad Atif Khan to Shah Faisal. The cheque was awarded at a ceremony held at the elementary and secondary education department’s committee room in the city on Wednesday.

‘Samosa’ vendor’s son clinches top spot in FSc from Malakand

The 19-year-old bagged top position in the secondary school certificate and FSc computer science group. The results were announced in June 2013 and August 2015, respectively.

Currently, Faisal is studying computer studies at University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar. Speaking to journalists, Faisal said he belonged to an underprivileged family of Chakdara, Lower Dir. He added his father sells samosas at Chakdara Bazaar.

“After school, I also help my father in his business to fulfil family expenses,” Faisal said. “Today, I am very happy to have received this award from the minister.”

He said government schools have a large number of talented students who are seldom provided the opportunity to excel. “I have faced various challenges in obtaining an education as I was poor,” he said. “I cannot afford the expenses. But my father supported me and today I am a student at an engineering university.”

A father’s pride

Farman Ali, Faisal’s father, said he sold samosas in Chakdara Bazaar to earn a livelihood.

He said Faisal is his eldest son and he helped him with work after school.

“My other son is a student of class nine and also intelligent like his brother,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, the education minister said the condition of government schools has improved over the last three years. He said the government has allocated considerable funds for Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa Scholarship to support underprivileged students.