learning is a gift at any age
30 April 2007

Patricia Sibiya is no ordinary student. She doesn't attend class every day like the hundreds of thousands of pupils across the province neither does she get regular school breaks or holidays.

Rather, she attends class every Saturday morning, along with a small group of fellow matriculants, all learning together at the company they work for.

39 years old and with three children to support on a full-time job, Sibiya is one of the few adult learners in the province fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to complete their secondary education.

Sibiya and the many other determined adult learners across the country are proving that, regardless of age, education is a human right - the theme of this year's Unesco's Global Action Week, which ends today. According to the last census completed in 2001, more than eight million South African adults were classified as functionally illiterate, as they only had basic or no schooling.

The 2001 census showed that the number of adults with no education at all increased significantly in five provinces - and KwaZulu-Natal was the province with the highest increase of illiterate adults.

KZN Premier S'bu Ndebele said in his state of the province address at the beginning of this year that it is a concern that almost two million people in KwaZulu-Natal who are 15 years and older are illiterate.

"I had always wished to finish my schooling, so when the company I work for offered me the chance, I just told myself to take this gift and make the most of it," Sibiya said.  "I love working with people and helping others. I hope that after I get my matric certificate, I can be promoted to work in another department where I can help people," she said.  Sibiya's oldest daughter is studying towards a pharmacy degree through Unisa and they usually study together.

"She always says to me, 'Mommy, you must do this,' and 'Mommy, you mustn't do that,' but I enjoy learning with her," she laughed.

Menaka Padayachee, director of the Workplace Unit, an organisation that facilitates adult basic education classes, said it is important for people to educate themselves, regardless of age.  "Many of the adult learners sacrifice their time with their families and homes to come to class and learn. This shows amazing commitment to develop their skills and knowledge," she said.
 
www.iol.co.za, Arthi Sanpath