AT 55 years old, Cornelius Naluube has taken a seat in a Form One classroom at St Mary’s Day Secondary School in Monze District, joining pupils young enough to be his children in order to complete the education he once had to abandon.
Decades ago, Naluube was forced to leave school due to financial challenges that made education a luxury beyond his reach.
With limited resources at home, the dream of finishing school slipped away as the responsibilities of adulthood took over.
The idea of returning to the classroom seemed impossible, until the introduction of the government’s free education policy changed everything.
According to Byta FM, Naluube said that the removal of school fees gave him a second chance he could not ignore.
“Sitting among pupils young enough to be my children can be challenging, but I remain focused on my goal of improving my literacy levels and expanding my opportunities,” Naluube said.
He recalled how years of work and adult responsibilities had kept him from pursuing his education, leaving him with a sense of unfinished business.
“Education is a lifelong asset and my return to school should encourage other adults who dropped out to swallow their pride and take advantage of the policy,” he said.
Naluube explained that many people of his generation failed to complete school because of lack of resources, but the current initiative has removed that barrier.
He now hopes that adults who gave up on schooling long ago will follow his example and return to learning.
He further urged fellow dropouts not to let age, fear, or embarrassment prevent them from pursuing knowledge and building a better future.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba March 3, 2026
