POOR WHIZZ KID. . . Lionel attained eight As in his O-Level examinations. . . Parents can’t clear arrears for him to get his results. . . He hasn’t secured an A-Level place to further studies

Latwell Nyangu

A WHIZZ KID, who dreams of becoming a chemical engineer in the future, fears he might never realise his dreams.

Lionel Paradza, 16, attained 8 As and a B in his O-Level examinations.

But, he comes from a family which is so poor they even failed to raise money to enable him to clear the school’s arrears and collect his results to enable him to secure an A-Level spot.

The whizz kid spoke to H-Metro and said:

“If chances permit, I would want to study abroad but currently I am grounded as I am looking for financial assistance to help me collect my results and get an A-Level enrolment.

“I am staying with my father and he has lost all hope and that he has left me looking for other alternatives where I can get help.

“I just want to enrol for Form 5 and failure to do so will lead me into depression.

“I need to collect my results and I have some arrears that I have to clear at the school and then I have to pay for my Form 5 studies.

“My dream is to become a chemical engineer.”

Lionel said he faced similar challenges when he passed his Grade 7 examination.

“I passed my Grade 7 during the Covid-19 period and we were in lockdown.

“During that time, my father got sick and it was a tough situation but I managed to write my exams and came out with five units.

“Despite the challenges, I studied so hard so that I would pass.”

He was at Hwiru Primary School in Gutu and then enrolled at Dadaya High School for his secondary education.

“I was reading but not too at a serious level and my parents were the ones who actually pushed me. I had been putting in little effort.

“However, from the time I was in Form 2, I was doing quite well.

“In my first term, I ended up as number 24 at our school and during the second term, I came out at number five and in the third term I came out at number three.

“I was then screened to do mainly science subjects from Form 3 to Form Form 4 and my lowest pass mark was 6 As and B.

“During the third term when I was in Form 3, I attained 7 As and a B.

“In the countdown to the exams, I was getting 8As and a B.

“All along I would get a B in English but during my final examination, I had a B in Biology.

“I was studying Chemistry, Biology, Geography, English, Shona, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics,” said Lionel.