When Nayer Pasha first decided to return to studying, she was driven by a simple but powerful goal: to grow, learn, and build a better future.
What followed was a journey marked by extraordinary resilience, courage, and the unwavering pursuit of education – even in the face of life-changing adversity.
Nayer, from Levenshulme, says she always wanted to achieve something “meaningful” since arriving to start a new life in the UK in 2011. Originally from Pakistan, Nayer holds qualifications from her home country, but faced significant hurdles which made it difficult to continue studying until the Manchester Adult Education Centre (MAES) provided the support and flexibility she needed to thrive.
MAES, one of the largest adult education providers, offers free or low-cost courses to help adults in the city improve skills, gain qualifications, and access work or further education through a range of diverse courses including digital skills, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), vocational training and community learning. Centre staff and tutors work closely with learners to ensure they are joining the right course to achieve their goals.
Now in her 30s, Nayer took the leap and enrolled in Level 2 Maths and English courses in 2023. The new student was doing well with her studies and had the support of her tutors, until she received a devastating diagnosis.
Nayer was told by doctors that she had spinal myelopathy, a condition that compresses the spinal cord and can lead to permanent paralysis. MRI scans revealed extensive damage from her C3 to c4 vertebrae, with critical compression at multiple levels. Doctors scheduled an urgent six-hour surgery, warning that without immediate intervention, Nayer might never walk again.
She described the physical and emotional pain as “unbearable” after waking up from surgery and doctors still warning her that her prognosis could be debilitating. At her lowest and unable to move in her hospital bed and barely opening her eyes, Nayer says she thought about her courses and all the dreams she had being taken away from her.
But credits the friends on her course and her tutors for being a pillar of mental and emotional support during her darkest time.
Just two weeks post-operation and having undergone hours of physio, Nayer began to regain sensation in her legs. Five days after being discharged, she insisted on sitting her English exam despite her tutors advising against it – and achieved an outstanding score of 94%.
Nayer’s strength and determination continue to shine through after successfully completing Maths and English alongside studying Cybersecurity, gaining hands-on experience with advanced tools and networking modules up to Level 3.
Nayer, who was also nominated and won an award at the 2023/24 MAES Learner Celebration of Achievement Awards, says she gained so much more than her qualifications at MAES. She says she learnt punctuality and managing her time.
She once struggled to speak and to make friends, but the confidence she gained in pushing herself to learn something new during a tumultuous time is what she values the most.
Nayer went to on to apply for her first role in Cybersecurity at the council and the next day was told she had the job. Her course taught her about risk management with a focus on how vulnerabilities can be identified and mitigated effectively.She says her new job was the perfect ending to the start of her new chapter.
Nayer Pasha, a former Adult Education student, said: “Beginning my studies with the Manchester Adult Education Centre was one of the best things I’ve done. It was very difficult to be studying and balancing the sudden turn in my health. But having the support and endless encouragement from my friends and tutors meant everything to me. For me, my new role in Cybersecurity at the council is a full circle moment.”
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member foe Skills, Employment and Leisure and Chair of the Manchester Adult Education Service Board, said: “We are proud to offer inspirational adult education that connects Manchester’s adults to their potential, their community, and their future. Our learners are at the heart of everything we do, and we remain committed to helping them thrive.”
Details on course enrolment at the Manchester Adult Education Service can be found on their website where adults can book an appointment with an experienced team of tutors.
