She spends her spare time in a similar way to many other ten-year-old girls - playing with Barbie dolls and making loom bands. But
the key difference between Esther Okade and other children her age is
that she has been accepted to study for a university maths degree -
despite not going to school.
Esther,
from Walsall, West Midlands, has enrolled on an Open University course
months after she passed her A-levels - and wants to study for a PhD
before running her own bank.
The
girl, who gained a C grade in her maths GCSE aged six, has joined the
course which started this month. Her younger brother Isiah is already
studying for his A-levels - also aged six.
The
siblings are both home-schooled by their mother Omonefe, who has
converted the living room of their semi-detached, three-bedroom house
into a makeshift classroom.
Mathematician
Mrs Okade, 37, said: ‘Esther is doing so well. She took a test recently
and scored 100 per cent. Applying to the university was an interesting
process because of her age.
‘We
even had to talk to the vice-chancellor. After they interviewed her
they realised that this has been her idea from the beginning. From the
age of seven Esther has wanted to go to university.
‘But
I was afraid it was too soon. She would say, “Mum, when am I
starting?”, and go on and on and on. Finally, after three years she told
me, “Mum, I think it is about time I started university now”.’
Mrs
Okade added that Esther - who will study for her degree at home - was
‘flying’ and ‘so happy’ when she was accepted by the university, and
wants to be a millionaire.
She said:
‘For now we want her to enjoy her childhood as well as her maths. By the
time she was four I had taught her the alphabet, her numbers, and how
to add, subtract, multiply and division.
‘I
saw that she loved patterns so developed a way of using that to teach
her new things. I thought I would try her with algebra, and she loved it
more than anything.’
Esther stunned her parents last year when she achieved a B grade in her pure maths A-level.
She
applied to the Open University last August - and after a phone
interview, an essay and an exam, she was told in December that she had
been accepted onto the course.
Her father Paul, 42, a
managing director, added: ‘I cannot tell you how happy and proud I am as
a father. The desire of every parent is to see their children exceed
them, and take the family name to great heights, and my children have
done just that.’
