Rita Offin, a 63-year-old mother of five, is one of hundreds of students sitting for the 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Ashanti Region’s Obuasi East District.
Madam Offin’s decision to return to the classroom was influenced by the difficulties she has faced in her trade as someone who cannot read or write.
Despite being mocked from the start, she defied all odds to enroll in class four at the age of 57.
“I am very hopeful that after this level of education, I will be able to read and write particularly the Bible as that has been one of my greatest challenges despite being a Christian,” she told Adom News‘ Issac K Normanyo.
Madam Offin, who hopes to benefit from the government’s Free SHS program, encouraged young girls to look forward to her for encouragement in their educational pursuits.
The sexagenarian was among 2,097 candidates taking the tests at the CKC Centre ‘A,’ according to District Education Director Kwabena Owusu-Nketiah.
He went on to say that the district has eight centers, but that a total of 41 candidates, the bulk of whom are boys, did not show up for the tests on Tuesday.
Six nursing mothers and four pregnant girls were among the 41, he said.
Some candidates who talked to Adom News said they were nervous at first but gained courage after seeing the first papers on Monday and are optimistic.
