A 67-YEAR-OLD grandmother was among those who graduated from the Negros Occidental High School (NOHS) this year.
Rosita Locsin, a night class student, was accelerated from Grade 8 to Grade 11 or Junior High School after she passed the examination for the “Balik Paaralan” program for out-of-school adults or the Alternative Learning System (ALS) last November.
Locsin, a widow of the late Romulo Locsin, said she enjoyed “high school life” now that she was given a second chance to go back to school and experience the joy of learning.
Their moving-up ceremony was held on Tuesday, April 3, at the NOHS grounds.
This June, Locsin will be attending the Senior High School to finally complete her basic education under the K to 12 program.
She was among the 58 students who passed the ALS examination.
During the recognition day held on April 2, she got two medals for having high academic ratings and a model to her fellow students on good values.
Rosita and Romulo were blessed with four children who are now professionals.
Her children were very proud of her decision of going back to school.
“I have allowed my children to enjoy their right to education and two of my daughters are now working as a registered nurse in Ireland and in Riyadh. Our eldest works in a bank in Manila and the other one is a computer technician. I also have a grandchild who is now a registered nurse. Since all of them are now working and are financially stable, I decided to go back to school. This is the only vice that I have because I really love to study and learn. I believe that education has no age limits,” she said.
Locsin is the eldest among the eight children.
At the age of 15, she worked as a house helper because her parents don’t have enough money to send them to school.
“When I reached 18, I got married to a Negrosanon and became a widow at 32. Since I have mouths to feed and they need to continue their studies, I decided to work overseas, still as a house helper. I worked in Kuwait for two years, 10 years in Singapore and two years in Hongkong. All my children were left with my in-laws who helped me raised my kids. Now they are all professionals,” she said.
Meanwhile, Yehlaine Estores, ALS instructional manager of NOHS, said the program is for the out-of-school adults and drop-outs who want to go back to school.
Locsin is the most adult in the class and showed good academic performance in their class, Estores said.
Meanwhile, NOHS principal Mario Amaca reported that there were 1,332 students who studied in the different curriculum offered by NOHS.
For Grade 12, there are 480 students who will graduate Wednesday, April 4.