A married woman with young kids identified as Mrs. Folashade Alabi but popularly known as Mummy Shade just started her secondary school education at 38 years old.
According to her, the idea to always acquire formal education to at least the level of being able to speak the English language fluently has been her dream.
She said, not until a few years ago, she attended Adult Education class to be able to read and write a few things
Mummy Shade as she is fondly called, is a fashion designer who also sews small bags as souvenirs used at different celebrations.
She said the reason she attends class at 38 is her desire to speak the English language fluently. Adding that most of her friends whom she grew up with had the opportunity to go to school at a very tender age and they speak English fluently.
She said, it’s bothered her whenever she sees her friends whom she grew up with speaks and she couldn’t at all, so she made up her mind to go back to school. Because she also wants to communicate too.
According to her, she made her intention known to a family friend, who got excited about the idea and took her to meet an official in the Kwara State Ministry of Education. Who instead of starting her from JSS1, she was placed in JSS 2 at Ilorin Grammar School along with the Sawmill Area of the state capital.
Though she had earlier attended Adult Education school, where she was able to learn to read and write but her inability to speak English remained a big concern.
Madam Alabi, who is not yet proficient in the English Language had to speak in Yoruba Language stating that her determination to make a success of her ambition is not in doubt.
She said, “My dream is to learn, I want to be able to speak the English Language fluently like my friends, many of them are educated. When I finish my education, whatever God wants me to use the certificate for, He will provide then.
In her words, she also said, “I have been longing to go back to school but there was no time for me, but thank God I am finally here now to learn. I have attended adult education school where I obtained my first school leaving certificate. By the grace of God, I am enjoying my studies here in school. The students here are very happy to see me in their midst and there’s a cordial relationship between us.
“I have children at various levels of education, that doesn’t bother me because it is my life ambition. I am happy to inform you that all of them including my husband supported my plan to return to school.
Madam Alabi has commenced the learning of English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies among others and she’s enjoying it. Saying that her determination to achieve her aim didn’t make her bother about her size and age among other pupils in her class who are not even up to her children’s age. She commends the cooperation she has been getting from the pupils in cordiality.
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