61-Year-Old Grandmother Who Enrolled In Secondary School Tells Why

61-year-old grandmother, Mrs. Helen Odeba, who recently drew lots of praise and admiration online after one A.S Aruwa shared on Twitter that she an SS2 student at a secondary school in Kaduna State (read here) has shared her story in a chat with Punch.

She said:

“I am from Kogi State.

I have nine children; four girls and five boys. Some of them have married.  I have seven grandchildren.

…My eldest son and one of my female children studied at the Kaduna Polytechnic. They obtained diplomas there. One of my sons is a corps member. He studied at the Kogi State University. Another female child is currently at the Plateau State Polytechnic.

…I finished primary education before I got married. When I got married, I stopped my education but I always wanted to return to school.

I have been a housewife.

I want to learn new things. I miss my years in primary school as a child when I learnt many things. I felt that I could learn more now that I have given birth to children. I am now able to concentrate on the future. This made me enrol at the Government Secondary School, Gonin Gora, Kaduna State. I started from the junior class.

I am (now) in senior secondary two; commercial class.”

On if her husband and children support her decision to return to school, she said, “They did when I told them it was what I desired to do.” She continued:

“(My husband) works as a security man at the Kaduna Polytechnic.

(My classmates and I) relate well. We joke, chat and study together. I have a seat mate, Justina, who I disturb a lot to explain topics that I do not understand to me.

I like Mathematics and English. I always perform better in the two subjects than I do in others.

I always feel happy (learning with younger classmates). It is fun learning with them. There is no shame since I know why I returned to school.

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Everyone in the school calls me, ‘mama’ including my teacher. I only smile because I know it is a way of showing me respect. I respect all of them too.

…Most times, I find it hard to cope…I attend school regularly but sometimes, I may not have transport fare to go to school. There are also times that I do not understand some of the things that a teacher is teaching. I always try to meet my mates to teach me or meet the teacher to explain. The teachers are nice. They give me attention whenever I ask questions.”

On combining her homemaking with studying, she said, “I try to plan everything well. I cook and take care of the home on time. I also find time to read what I learn in school daily. There is no day I do not revise what I was taught in school.”

She added, “I want to open a shop after I finish with secondary school. I will know how to calculate money, talk to customers and give them their change.”

The grandmother who revealed, “many of (my friends) do not support me. They keep telling me that I am wasting my time going to school at my age. I do not think I am wasting my time. I think I am doing what is right because no one is too old to learn. I wish they could join me to learn” is however not sure she would be pursuing further studies after her secondary school education.

Photo credit: Punch