Caroline's busy job as a university secretary, along with being mum to three young children, has made doing assessments really challenging at times. Despite this, she has proved that 'determination leads to success' and has not only passed but also achieved a Top Paper Award #ABEway. She says she likes that ABE is about developing your thinking, rather than memorising facts. Here's her story:
"I am from Ntcheu District, Malawi, Southern Africa, married with three children – two girls aged 12 and 3 and one boy aged 8. I did my secondary school education at Katoto Secondary School in Mzuzu. After that, I went to Soche Technical College to study a Secretarial course. Currently, am working with Mzuzu University as a secretary.
I chose to study ABE because of its convenience. The availability of reading resources which are simple to understand made me achieve my goal with limited time. ABE also allows career progression – you progress with your career while working.
Truly speaking, I have never studied at any school. At first, I had wanted to enrol with Mzuzu Technical College but I couldn’t manage because it was difficult for me to cope with office pressure to either attend evening or weekend classes because my children also needed my attention. So, I just got determined to have self-studies and found a centre, Mzuzu Technical College, where I wrote exams and submitted my assignments. Thus I managed to write all eight courses in that way. Some of my workmates who went through ABE also encouraged me a lot and I am really thankful to them.
ABE is one of the institutional bodies which the public and employers recognise as offering excellent tertiary education. My plan is to complete the other levels and enrol for the degree programme which has just been introduced.
With ABE you are able to access educational resources which are suitable for self-studying. You can pay for the exams according to your resources. The other thing is that ABE assesses the thinking capacity of a person, not just content memorising, which is the best thing about the programme.
I have gained Business Management and Human Resource skills which have enabled me to have a better understanding of the workplace as a secretary through good interaction with students, colleagues and officers.
Caroline's success tips
Extensive research:
The road has been really tough. I remember the time when I was expected to write Finance for Managers and Introduction to Quantitative methods through open-book exams. It really needed extra time for research. Extensive research helps a person to have wide knowledge for assignments to be accomplished.
Determination leads to success:
During the first semester of 2021, I was over occupied at my workplace and it was difficult for me to concentrate on the preparations for the exams. Two weeks before the exams, I wrote ABE to request the possibility of shifting my exams to the following semester which ABE refused. It was a big blow for me to accept my exams forfeited. With encouragement from my husband, I vowed to have sleepless nights until I wrote the exams. To my surprise, it is the same semester that has made me win a Top Paper Award. To me, I say, people need to be determined and success will be achieved. Study ABE with determination and God will guide.
My long-term plan is to complete the degree programme which has just been introduced."