One is never to old to learn and at Victory Park Adult Education Centre based at De La Salle Holy Cross College, anyone who is eager to better themselves is more than welcome to be a student at the night school.
There is no better validation of this sentiment than the experience of current students of the school. One of those is Nomi Sambo, originally from Kwa Zulu-Natal, who joined the centre four years ago. “It was fun to begin this new chapter of my life and start school all over again, I started with Level 4 and passed to Level 5.”
She found that was motivated by the elderly in her class. Even though it might have been hard for them to understand certain subjects, they were motivated to push through and were not afraid to ask for help. For her, this created a helpful and pleasant environment to be in.
“We are not just one person in the school but we grow to be part of a community and the teachers are always there for us, giving us advice and teach us by explaining how, why and what needs to be done,” she shared.
Now that she has reached Level 5 she has been able to attain a dream of hers and now has the option to select what subjects she will write in the examinations. “We don’t need to write all six subjects at once – to date I have completed accounting, business studies, economics, and English home language and now I am busy with mathematics and Afrikaans. Once this is done I plan to better my Level 5 marks to open other doors for me.”
Mathematics, mathematical literacy and science teacher, Strike Khurometja, said teaching there has been an eye-opening experience, “Most of our learners come here not knowing how to read or write and they come with need to be able to read their Bible or just their pay slip.”
He said that anyone who is interested in learning should come to the school as the centre’s objective is to eliminate illiteracy. “We are willing to help anyone with challenges, we solve classroom problems and even issues faced beyond the classroom.”
Gardener by day and learner by night, Jackson Simango, started at the centre about five years ago as he had never finished his studies. His years at the centre have been good for him with his favourite subjects being English and mathematics. He is working towards attaining his matric certificate in hopes to one day become a boilermaker. “I sleep at around 3am on most days making sure I get in study time in.”
To the young and old, Simango hopes you realise just how important school is, “If you don’t go to school your life will not be the same, the best thing is to complete school or upgrade your marks so you can get your diploma or degree.”
