35-year-old mother of four sits CPE exams in Juba

By Jenifer James

Esther Yousphat, a 35-year-old mother of four is among pupils sitting for the 2024 Certificate of Primary Education Exams which commenced on November 18.

She said that her passion is driven by the need to compensate for years she stayed out of school following outbreak of conflict in December 2013.

  Yousphat told The Dawn on Monday, that she is eager to speak fluent English to fit in with her children and their friends. One of her sons graduated from university recently, and she feels the pressure to emulate him despite her advanced age.

“They would come over to our house, and I couldn’t join their conversations, which made me feel left out and embarrassed. That’s when I knew I needed to do something,” said Yousphat as she prepared to enter her primary 8 classroom at Gudele West Primary School.

 Sitting among classmates and children half her age, Yousphat is determined to prove that education is a lifelong journey regardless of age.

 “I realized it wasn’t just about learning English; I needed to finish my education,” she said.

However, her journey back to school was not all that rosy as she was skeptical about sharing a classroom with pupils of lower age.

“I was nervous and wondered if I could keep up, but I was determined to make it work,” said Yousphat.

She disclosed that her classmates were initially curious about her presence, with some even questioning her decision.

 “They would ask me why I was there, and some even laughed,” she said.

But rather than discourage her, these reactions fueled her determination to study hard, this determination endeared her to many of her classmates.

 Yousphat said her enrolment in school is not motivated by the desire to earn a certificate, but to prove that education is worth pursuing in the longer term.

“I want to show my son that no matter how old you are, you can always go back to school. Education opens doors, and I want to be an example of that for him and for anyone else who thinks it’s too late,” she said.

As she sat down to write her first exam she said it’s possible for everyone to pursue their dreams no matter the age.