At 57, This Woman Is A Candidate In The BECE Exams

In a situation where some in their 40s would write themselves off further education, citing age, it is yet morning on creation for the woman above.

At 57, her spirit and heart still yearn for a conquest of education, and for that reason, she registered for and is among candidates writing the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in her native Ghana.

Madam Elizabeth Yamoah’s determination is to become a professional nurse in future a reason she registered for BECE at the Odoben Presbyterian Junior High School (JHS) in 2017.

Taking time out to speak with the media at Odoben after writing the Information Communication Technology (ICT) paper, said she was motivated by the policy of free Senior High school (SHS) introduced by the government and encouragement from her children to enrol.

Hers is truly a story of determination for Madam Yamoah, who is a farmer, said she dropped out of school in primary-four after her father died.

According to the mother of four, who also has five grandchildren, she realised she had to be bold and take her destiny into her own hands to better her future.

Inspired by the free SHS policy, Madam Yamoah said she decided to take advantage of it to achieve her aspirations in life.

Madam Yamoah stated that her last grandchild would complete JHS next year but that did not discourage her from pursuing her dreams.

“I walked straight to Odoben Presbyterian Junior High School in 2017 and was welcomed by Mr Samuel Quaye, the Head teacher of the school when I informed him of my intention to attend school,” she said.

According to her, she will hit 60 years before completing her SHS education but was hopeful that she would be considered by the government and admitted into a nursing school.

Mr Quaye, the headteacher, who led BECE candidates to Odoben SHS Examination Centre, confirmed the story but said he doubted the woman’s ability to study, Ghanaweb report shows.

He said he finally enrolled her in JHS and told the students to give her the needed respect and she had not disappointed him.

According to the Headteacher, Madam Yamoah is one of the brilliant students in the classroom despite her age and expressed the hope that she would go places with her full determination.

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Mr Quaye said, her courage to write the BECE was commendable and expressed the hope that she will gain admission to SHS to further realize her ambitions.

Indeed, Madam Yamoah has just thrown a challenge to many younger women.

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