{ Ngendahimana Felicien, a 55- year- old father of 12 children- some of whom are university graduates- was among the candidates who sat for the REB exam this year at the Rambura girls school located in Nyabihu district.}
Ngendahimana , who is originally from the Ngororero district in Kageyo sector, says he started primary school at the age of 14 in 1973, but he was unable to continue to high school because of the political structure of the country during that time.
Talking to IZUBA Rirashe at Rambura, he said “although I never had the chance to complete high school during my younger years, I was among the best students when I was in primary school”. Ngendahimana added that he was going about his normal life for over 34 years, and then in 2007 he decided to return to school and pursue his high school diploma.
When Ngendahimana returned to school he started at the Secondary one level, at a school called Kamashashi in the Ngororero district. He then continued secondary 2, with a focus in languages at APPEREL, a school located in the Nyabihu district.
{{Why did you return to school ?}}
It’s not easy for older people like me to decide to return to school at my age; especially, after a long period of time, then having to sit in class with young girls and boys. Some want to return to school but feel ashamed because of their age, so they end up not going back to school. Personally, nothing could have stopped me from returning to school because the system that stopped me before no longer exists.
I grew up in a time where hatred and discrimination between citizens was the norm; this behavior was initiated and supported by leaders who were in power at that time. That’s also the culture that forced me into early marriage. In consequence, I had to overcome certain challenges.
After I got married, I had to work to support my family. Then came the time when my children started going to school with the help of co-operatives and support from family.
It was probably around 2004 when I started pondering on the idea of returning to school.
Ngendahimana returned to school in 2007, he says it was hard for him at the beginning. But as time progressed he got used to his classmates and teachers at school, although he was much older than them.
He added that after sometime, he never felt uncomfortable to even play football and other games with other students at the school.
Ngendahimana’s colleagues used to tell him that he was out of his mind for making the decision to go to high school at his age. But over time they realized that he was on the right track to success.
Ngandahimana believes he will pass the exams based on the way he prepared for them. Although he’s approaching the federal pension age, Ngendahimana hopes to continue teaching languages. In fact, he currently teaches Swahili during his free time at his hometown.
Apart from teaching languages, he hopes to continue on as an entrepreneur. Ngendahayo thanks the Local leadership for the support he was given as he pursued his education.
By: Richard Mugarura
Source: Izuba Rirashe
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