- Nadia Daniels, 41, earned her matric certificate with four distinctions after leaving school 20 years ago.
- She attended a Kensington-based adult night school, inspiring her son to stay in school.
- The school, started by Colleen Bingham, continues to uplift the community despite funding challenges.
When Nadia Daniels’ father died during her matric year over 20 years ago, she was forced to leave school and find work.
However, her dream to complete matric always remained.
It was at age 41 that she finally decided to fulfill this dream after making a deal with her son who was threatening to exit school in Grade 10 to pursue a career in welding.
“My son told me he wanted to become a welder and boiler maker and said he only needs Grade 10. I told him he needs matric. He told me that I don’t have matric, and I have my own business. I made a deal with him to get my matric if he did the same.”
Fast forward to today, Daniels is now the proud owner of a matric certificate which she passed with four distinctions.
Daniels joined the Open Education Night school, a non-profit company (NPC) in Kensington in 2022.
The NPC aims to uplift adults and young people by getting their matric certificates.
Need for night classes
The NPC was started six years ago and is the brainchild of Colleen Bingham and the late Colin Sass who saw the need for an adult night school in the community.
Bingham says: “Six years ago, we noticed that there was a need for adult classes within the Kensington area. We had a meeting and set some plans in place. We had 65 learners with our first intake. I am just doing this out of love for my community and to empower and uplift them.”
She explains that they started off with only three teachers teaching Business Studies, English Home Language, and Afrikaans First Additional Language.
According to Bingham, they later added religious studies, mathematical literacy and history.
Bingham says classes take place from Monday to Thursday from the Shawco Building on 12th Avenue.
“We now have people coming from Pelican Park, Woodstock, Brooklyn coming to our night school. It is so great to see people investing in themselves. Many of them need matric to get a promotion at work.”
Bingham explains that many people have walked through their doors during the past six years.
“Some of them come and then don’t return. But we tell them from the start this journey won’t be easy. It takes dedication, perseverance, and hard work. Sometimes they don’t come to class and want to give up, we will enquire and check how they are doing.”
On Saturday 17 November, the school hosted its first matric farewell ceremony.
“It was an amazing event. We had about 40 people in attendance. Getting the past and present groups together and seeing the joy on their faces was a highlight,” says Bingham.
She says despite the challenges some learners face, they’ve been resilient and achieved excellent results.
“For our August results, we had one learner with four distinctions and another with three. We also had bachelor passes and one learner had 82% for mathematical literacy.”
Experience
Daniels was one of the top achievers. She described receiving her results and learning that she passed with four distinctions as surreal.
“It didn’t sink in until I got my matric certificate. Once I held it in my hands, I felt overwhelmed and emotional. I didn’t think this piece of paper would make me feel this way.”
An elated Daniels explained that she was determined to achieve her dreams. “I want to study project management in construction, and I need matric for that. Over the years, I’ve encouraged many young people not to drop out of school. I always tell women to get their matric certificate and to become independent.”
Daniels expressed her gratitude to Bingham whom she says always encouraged and motivated her.
Bingham describes a lack of funding as their biggest challenge.
“We don’t get any funding. The learners are required to pay fees but some of them cannot even afford that, but we still allow them to complete because we want them to succeed.”
She appeals to businesses to support the initiative.
“We are appealing to business people to plough back into the community and support organisations like this. Even if they only sponsor one learner that would help. We have been active for six years and we don’t even have a copy machine.”
Bingham explains that learners pay a R600 registration fee and R500 per subject. The total fee for the 15-month course is R3 900 per learner.
For more information email Colleenbingham1@gmail.com
