13-Year-Old Starts Her MA

13-Year-Old Starts Her MA
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A 13-year-old girl from an uneducated and poor background has proved you don't need money to get ahead - by studying for a Master's degree.

Sushma Verma finished school when she was seven (about the same time as my eldest had finally learned how to tie her shoelaces) and has just completed a degree in microbiology.

Her parents have had to make huge sacrifices so she can study.

Along with her three younger siblings, Sushma lives in a cramped room in Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh, and they live off their father's daily wage of 200 rupees, which equates to less than £2.20 for his building work.

He even sold 10,000 square feet of land for 25,000 rupees (about £250) to cover some of her fees. Charities are paying for the rest of her tuition.