The Straits Times
Jan 11, 2011
She wins big despite bitter custody battle
Crescent Girls student at centre of parents' cross-border battle scores nine A1s
Alexandria, one of 11 students from Crescent Girls' School who scored nine A1s, is grateful for the support from her father, Mr Joseph Ramanathan. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
SHUTTLED between Singapore and Europe as her parents waged a bitter custody battle, Alexandria Shamini Joseph could have been forgiven for not concentrating 100 per cent on her studies.
But the conscientious student threw herself into her schoolwork.
Yesterday, her hard work was rewarded when she received a score of nine A1s in the O levels.
Despite her outstanding grades, Alexandria, 16, was not in the Education Ministry's list of top scorers because her race is listed under 'Others'.
She was born in Singapore to a Vietnamese-Swiss mother and a Ceylonese-Singaporean father.
They divorced in 1998 and her mother, Madam Anh Tho Andres, 55, took Alexandria, whose second language is French, to Switzerland.
The following year, her father, Mr Joseph Ramanathan, 48, brought her back to Singapore without her mother's permission.
When he returned, he was charged with kidnap. The legal tussle continued for the next few years. Although legally in the custody of her mother, Alexandria lived and travelled with her businessman father. He moved several times, at one point even taking her to Canada.
Her father homeschooled her until she was seven, when she started attending primary schools in Europe.
When her mother agreed to let her return to Singapore with him in 2004, she enrolled in Primary 4 in CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel. Two years later, she emerged as its top Primary 6 pupil and valedictorian.
Alexandria was one of the 11 students from Crescent Girls' School who scored nine A1s yesterday.
The dedicated student said she would study in church before exams to avoid distractions such as the television and the computer.
She was also grateful for the support from her father. 'My father would take me to and from school so I don't have to waste time travelling by public transport. During my exams, he would take me there and wait until my exams are over and then take me home.'
She said she keeps in touch with her mother via e-mail and visits her once a year.
JANE NG
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