Mum ready for Grade 12, daughter into Grade 11

By PETER WARI
MOTHER-of-five Clara Yannick is looking forward to completing Grade 12 at the Kutubu Secondary School this year.
Clara, 37, like all other students including four of her five children, is preparing herself for the start of the 2020 academic year.
Eldest daughter Beckhilda, 17, will be in Grade 11 at the Kerevat National High School. Dazlyne, 15, will be in Grade Eight. Leslyne, 12, is in Grade Six. Silopeth, 9, is in Elementary Two.
The only child who will stay at home is five-year-old son Saeducastigan.
Clara’s story began in 1997 when she left school at Grade Five to get married. Her husband, Alex Yannick, was in Grade Six then. Both were attending the Det Primary School.
They are from the Poroma local level government. After their third daughter was born, husband Alex returned to school at Orei Primary in Imbonggu district.
“He struggled a lot. He went from one school to another, including schools in other provinces. He finally made it to the Dauli Teachers College in 2011. But due to a problem at that college, he went to Holy Trinity Teachers College. He finally graduated as a teacher in 2013.”
Clara cannot forget 2014 when she herself started going back to school. She still remembers walking into the classroom to do Grade Seven at Det Primary, the very school she had left 17 years ago to get married.
She completed Grade Eight and was selected to do Grade Nine at the Nipa Secondary School. But she attended Kutubu Secondary instead as husband Alex was teaching nearby at Lake Kutubu Primary.

“ My husband has given me hope to go back to school after 17 years since we got married and left school.”

“I should have completed Grade 12 last year, but due to the 2018 earthquake, the school was shut down. I did Grade 11 last year while (daughter) Beckhilda was doling Grade 10 at the same school.
“Today I am prepared to go back to school. Sadly my daughter will be leaving for Kerevat. We will not be together.”
She thanks her husband for supporting her return to school.
“My husband has given me hope to go back to school after 17 years since we got married and left school. Life was hard for us and we saw education as the only avenue to free us from our struggle.”
She is planning a small party at home before the start of classes.
“The family will throw a small party to cheer up the children and wish them the best in their studies in 2020.”
Husband Alex thanks Clara for allowing him to return to school while she looked after their children and farm the land.
“I remember the struggled I went through and how committed and understanding my wife was during my days at school. So I encouraged her to go back to school too.
“Many men feel jealous and see women as inferior, someone to do garden work and look after children. They are wrong.”
Clara believes there is no age limit when it comes to education.
“I have discovered the joy of lifelong learning and feel refreshed when I re-entered school in 2014.”
She knows it is never too late.