Four of the five persons who have been awarded regional certificates for their participation in the local adult and continuing education programme say they are looking forward to writing the CSEC examinations next year.{{more}}

The five women: Gail Glasgow, Yvette Adams, Lynette Morris, Amrel Williams and Allison James-Horne were recognized by the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competency (CCSL) programme for their academic work over the past two years.

They successfully completed the two year cycle and are now eligible to write CSEC exams next year.

As a boost to the women’s confidence, the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, through the Ministry of Education, will be paying for two of their subjects: Social Studies and Information Technology.

The women, all over thirty years old and family oriented, consider their accomplishment a major milestone in their lives.

Expressing feelings of elation, pride, empowerment, and offering thanks to God, the women, who had left school sooner than ideal because of other commitments, say that they are ready to take their education to the next level.

Glasgow, the overall most outstanding student in the two year course, said that she was encouraged to join the programme in order to upgrade her academic skills and help others in her Sion Hill community.

She received a Master’s grade in English, Integrated Science and Social Studies, and Competent Grades in Spanish and Mathematics.

The 53-year-old former pre-school teacher said that she hopes to improve her ability to work along with the younger students, and intends to take the CSEC examinations two subjects at a time, starting with English and Social Studies.

Adams, who received Competent passes in English, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies and Spanish, is hoping to use her new found academic skills to seek a job for the first time.

The Dauphine home maker, mother of four and wife for 21 years, who sacrificed her education for a family, says she is not planning at stopping at the CCSL, but eagerly awaits the CSEC, where she believes she will do well.

She believes that older persons who did not get a chance at secondary education can take advantage of the adult and continuing education programme, where they can help their children or grand children with their academic work.

This concept is shared by Morris, also of Dauphine, who said that she was doubtful of her abilities in the beginning, but realized that she could make a better person of herself and continued her studies.

She received a Master’s grade for Integrated Science, and Competent grades for English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Spanish.

A teacher at the Prime Time Pre-school in Belair, Morris believes the programme can be beneficial to others who are willing to expand their knowledge and opportunities, as it did for her.

Villa/Fountain resident Williams, whose secondary education ended at an early stage, took up the challenge to develop herself academically.

Williams, who received similar passes as Morris, made a special appeal for persons who missed the opportunity as she did to take up the challenge of going back to the classroom, which she indicated can benefit them in the long run.

The fifth awardee, James-Horne, who could not be contacted, also received similar grades as Morris and Williams.

The students called on persons who are hesitant about continuing their education to take up the challenge, since there is no shame in doing so.

They reinforced the point that adult education is not just about reading and writing.

The Adult and Continuing Education programme observed its first week of activities this week.