Woman, 66, Writes BECE

 

66 Year Old Mary Gyabiah

 

66-year-old woman, Mary Gyabiah, made history when she wrote her first paper in the on-going Basic Education Certificate Examination at the Mansen Senior High School Examination Centre at Wamfie in the Dormaa East District of Brong-Ahafo.

In an interview with pressmen, Madam Gyabiah, a mother of eleven, explained that she started school from Primary Three in 2006.

She said although she is a farmer, she realized that one can't progress without education. Madam Gyabiah, who attends Nsesereso-Asuhyiaeso D/A School, said  she wanted to turn her life around and impact positively on the lives of children, teachers and opinion leaders in the community.

Asked how she managed with her learning, she noted that although her classmates and teachers helped her it was not an easy task and appealed to parents not to hesitate to provide the things their wards need for school for children to climb higher in the education ladder.

She was proud to say that she can now write her name and sign her signature when she goes to the bank instead of thumb-printing.

 Touching on some challenges facing her, the 66-year-old woman said her main challenge is a waist problem bedeviling her and appealed to well meaning Ghanaians and government to come to her aid as she hopes to further her education to the Dormaa Senior High School.

The Dormaa East District Director of Education, Nana Otu Acheampong,  noted that Madam Gyabiah has been acting as a role model to the students and teachers as she counseled them, adding that she even advised him.

He said her academic performance was average and hoped she will be able to continue to the Senior High School level.

In a related development, a 45-year-old man at Wamanafo D/A JHS, Abu Musah is also in JHS Two.

 Mr. Musah who is a cocoa farmer narrated that during his childhood years his guardians did not send him to school.
He said he is acquiring formal education to learn how to read because a literate cocoa farmer cannot be cheated easily by cocoa purchasing clerks.

 He also encouraged young people not to hesitate to go back to the classroom as it is better late than never.

From Vivianna Mensah, Sunyani