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Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Despite challenges, woman wants her education
Pursuits celebrated TEBOHO SETENA
The relentless quest for education by the wheelchair-bound Gotsofalo Mpeoa has given her a much-needed edge. This came in the form of a brandnew wheelchair and two uniquely designed desks that were donated to enable her to study more comfortably at home and in a classroom at the Thabeng Satellite Learning Centre in Bloemfontein. The wheelchair is from Standard Bank, while the two desks are from the Mangaung Correctional Centre, commonly known as Group 4. The essential tools were presented to Mpeoa (20) on Thursday, 20 March, at the centre where she has enrolled to obtain her matric certificate.
She previous attended the Tswellang Special School until Gr. 9. The school in question caters for learners with physical disabilities but does not offer classes beyond Gr. 9. Mpeoa’s determination to complete her schooling inspired her to enrol at the adult centre last year, which is housed at the Botlehadi Primary School. She is one of the 54 matric candidates enrolled at the centre. Her subjects include Business Studies, Economics, Accounting, Mathematic Elite, English, and Sotho. Serapelo Scholtz, deputy chief of Education Specialist Community Education and Training at the Free State Department of Education, said Mpeoa’s courage inspired her to go the extra mile in approaching different entities to get a suitable desk and wheelchair. “I made my mission seeing her dif-
ficulty, but was also amazed by her resilience to pursue the dream to obtain a matric certificate. She was struggling to come to school. I’m very grateful to both Group 4 and Standard Bank for their generosity to aid Gotsofalo in realising her dream,” said Scholtz. She said her encounter with Mpeoa was during the monitoring of the prep examination at the centre last year. Dihedile Pholoana, manager of the centre, said Mpeoa never missed classes, adding that she was equally amazed and encouraged when she first registered last year. Rachel Mpeoa, the learner’s mother, expressed great appreciation for the donation received. “Gotsofalo is an amazing child, and her love for education – I cannot measure. I was extremely happy when she was accepted at the school to continue with her dream to get education.”
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Serapelo Scholtz (deputy chief of Education Specialist Community Education and Training) presents Gotsofalo Mpeoa with a wheelchair and desks. Photo: Teboho Setena
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