After years away from formal education and facing personal challenges with anxiety, Fouzia Parveen made a life-changing decision: to return to learning through adult education.
What began as a way to manage her mental health and stay occupied quickly evolved into a transformative experience that reignited the mother-of-two’s confidence and revealed her potential, now a catalyst for inspiring her own adult education career.
Fouzia, from Cheetham Hill, was initially unaware of adult learning centres in Manchester, but was encouraged to research into it by a friend. She joined the Manchester Adult Education Service (MAES) with no specific goal other than to keep busy and to deal with her mental health. She says she was struggling with anxiety and giving her space to focus on something else helped her to cope during her day to day.
In 2022, the 55-year-old started with Functional Skills in Maths and English where she found a warm, welcoming environment and teachers who offered unwavering support. Fouzia’s first language is Urdu and so she credits these early steps in helping her build a strong foundation in English and giving her the confidence to pursue further qualifications.
Fouzia went on to complete both GCSE English and GCSE Maths with the unwavering support of her teachers. Her passion for Maths led her to volunteer teaching GCSE Maths studies to her fellow learners, where she says she learnt a deeper understanding of Math calculations and how to explain them to others.
She joined thousands of other learners who have achieved incredible results this year with 85.7% of MAES learners achieving high grades (9-4) in GCSE Maths and 86.4% securing high grades (9-4) in GCSE English.
Being on the other side of education inspired Fouzia, now knowing she had an untapped natural talent for teaching. Encouraged by her teacher, she even delivered a lesson herself, an experience that sparked her ambition to pursue a career in education.
Throughout her journey, Fouzia balanced her studies with a job in administration and family responsibilities. Her husband and two children played a vital role in her success, offering emotional and practical support. From helping with household tasks to assisting with her studies, their encouragement was instrumental in her progress. Fouzia says that her biggest hurdle was finding the time to do it all, but being organised and managing her everyday tasks, was one of the biggest life skills she took away from being a student again.
In addition to her academic achievements, Fouzia completed a five-week sustainability workshop, which deepened her understanding of environmental responsibility and the impact of everyday choices. She also developed key skills in communication, organisation, and teamwork which she now plans to apply in her next chapter.
As a further testament to her hard work, she achieved the Level 3 Award in Education and Training and won an award at the 2023/24 MAES Learner Celebration of Achievement Awards.
This September, Fouzia will begin a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at Bolton University with the goal of becoming a teacher and supporting learners who may lack confidence or feel unsure of themselves. Her dream is to teach other students like her who are on their educational journey, teaching physics as secondary school teacher.
Enrolment at the Manchester Adult Education Service for courses runs from 2-11 September where adults can book an appointment with an experienced team of tutors.
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure and Chair of the Manchester Adult Education Service Board, said: “Each September, I’m always proud to see adult learners take the leap into returning to education despite how unnerving it can be for them.
“It’s a testament to what Manchester has to offer and the ambition that drives our city. The Manchester Adult Education Service is truly one of the best, offering unwavering support and quality teaching to ensure our leaners get the best of their time with us, leaving with confidence and skilled in what they put their minds to do.”
Fouzia Parveen, a former Adult Education Learner, said: “Sometimes you don’t know what abilities you have until someone helps you discover them. Adult education did that for me and it can do the same for others.
“I had an enriching time studying, learning new skills alongside my course that I never anticipated. To go back and study at this stage in my life was daunting, but I want people to know that is doesn’t have to be. It’s never too late to learn and try something new.”
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