Security officer graduates with honours and pursuing master's degree

Attending the graduation ceremonies of her younger brother in 2010 and that of her daughter in 2018 motivated and inspired Emily Motau, a Unisa Protection Services staff member based at the Middelburg Regional Service Centre, to renew her educational ambitions. She recently graduated with a BA Honours degree in Archives and Records Management.

Motau says learning is a continuous journey that transcends age boundaries.

Motau, born in Motetema, outside Groblersdal in Limpopo, always desired to revive her studies, but challenges often prevented her from pursuing her goal. She says: "I come from an impoverished family background and have always wanted to further my studies." However, she had to drop out of college in 1999 at the age of 25 following the death of her mother as there was no one to fund her studies further. She continues: "After my mom's death, I had to focus on raising my two kids. I relied on contract jobs. Salaries were low and without any perks like study benefits."

Her younger brother obtained a B-Tech in Cost and Management Accounting, and her daughter received a B-Tech in Biotechnology in 2010 and 2018. Since their graduations, Motau's urge to further her studies was once again kindled. Meanwhile, her financial position had not changed much from the last time she dropped out of college. Her breakthrough came when Unisa employed her permanently following the insourcing exercise.

Shortly after Unisa's insourcing as a permanent staff member, Motau gained access to study benefits. She enrolled for a higher certificate in ABET (Adult Basic Education and Training), which she completed. After that, she also completed her BA in Information Science.

She shares that her newly completed honours degree has taught her how archives, data management and record-keeping can make life easier for users. She gained valuable skills in information organisation, retrieval, and analysis, which are sought after in today's digital age. She says: "Now I am passionate about understanding how technology can be used to organise, manage, and retrieve information."

With an honours degree in the bag, Motau is currently pursuing a Master of Information Science degree.

Grateful for her support structure and seeing her through several turbulent times during her academic journey, she says: "I am lucky to have had a whole community encourage me to ensure that I remain focused. This includes staff at Unisa Middelburg, Unisa Polokwane library staff, Unisa's Counselling and Technology Support units, and my family. Friends who were inspired by my qualifications were also very supportive."

Vusi Motau, Promise Motau, Mlungisi Motau and Mojalefa Matona celebrate Emily Motau's academic achievement.

Motau is currently admitted for the Master of Information Science qualification. "Learning is a continuous journey that transcends age boundaries. Regardless of your stage in life, you can benefit greatly from pursuing higher education. It's not only about obtaining a degree but also about gaining a deeper understanding of the world. This applies to individuals who have completed their studies and those who feel they have achieved enough. Embracing lifelong learning is essential for success in the ever-evolving landscape of the fourth industrial revolution," she concludes.

*By Gilbert Mokwatedi, Communication and Marketing Manager, Unisa North Eastern Region