Immigrants aged 50 and over are considering a rewarding second career in education

Some of them recognize that resuming studies in the field of education at their age is far from easy.

This is the big challenge. The system here is different from that of our countries. It was much more theoretical than practical. But here, we favor research. Teachers only give you resources, it is up to you to research and produce quality work to hand in. explains Félix Bwitonzi, a recent graduate of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa, at the Windsor campus.

Félix Bwitonzi arrived in Canada in 2016. In his fifties, he has 17 years of experience in the judiciary in his country of origin Burundi.

He says he never thought he would go back to school one day to become a teacher.

However, according to Jeff Tshibutula Mpoy, Fulgence Niyomugabo and Mr. Bwitonzi, who have all chosen teaching, this is an exciting opportunity, despite the challenges.

The computer tool, a major challenge

When Félix Bwitonzi decided to study as an adult, he was aware of his difficulties in the field of computing.

It’s another challenge, but we somehow manage to get out of it. The people here are well trained in handling the machine. They know where they are looking. A job that we do in three days, it is possible for a young person to do it in two hourshe said.

Jeff Tshibutula Mpoy was an accountant by training in his country of origin, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Arrived in 2014, he resumed school at age 52 and finished the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa, at the Windsor campus, this year.

He struggled to follow online courses. Her tech-savvy kids are invaluable to her.

For me, it was the first time studying online, but it was not easy from the start. When there were problems, I collaborated with my children, sometimes there are certain applications, how to share the work, I was shown how to do it.

Despite all these difficulties related to his adaptation to the education system, he managed to hang on and finished his internship at the end of April.

Children who have studied here have a certain speed. They sometimes have certain strategies that we haven’t had in Africahe explains with a smile.

According to Idrine Matenda Zambi, part-time professor at the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa, Windsor campus, the technological challenge is major for some students.

When students arrive at the faculty, you can clearly see that there is a technological challengehe says.

The teachers offer them better support and the results are satisfactory, according to Mr. Matenda Zambi.

Over time, I have seen my students be able to not only perform at their best, but also deliver presentations of extraordinary quality.he said.

” Every male and female student has unique needs and I find it is the teacher’s job to support them and give them the necessary tools they need so they can perform to the best of their ability. »

Fulgence Niyomugabo worked for 13 years in the central administration in his country of origin Rwanda, then 18 years in banking management. Aged 67, he had no problem handling the internet tool when he enrolled in the faculty of education in 2014.

It didn’t bother me much. I have a master’s degree in economic and social administration. I had done technology in the Faculty of Economics in Marseille. I was also using technology in my 18 years of banking (….) personally it didn’t create any problemshe explains.

Why Choose Faculty of Education?

Although enjoying extensive banking experience, the lack of Canadian experience was an obstacle to allowing Mr. Niyomugabo to break into his chosen field.

According to him, banks could not invest in a person of relatively advanced age. He preferred to embrace the teaching career which allows him to work beyond retirement age.

The teaching career, you can work until you’re 70, I’m supposed to be retired two years ago. I keep working because I haven’t worked many years in Canada, so my retirement wouldn’t be much. This is the career that should benefit me well he says.

Jeff Tshibutula Mpoy, for his part, worked in a factory in Kingsville, near Windsor, for almost six years.

I still went to university in the country, I could not continue all my life to make the manufacture. I got into education. I’m almost at the end of my traininghe adds.

At the beginning, he wanted to work in the field that suited his accounting studies, but his entourage dissuaded him.

I heard that if you go into accounting, you’ll have a hard time finding a job.he said.

Félix Bwitonzi, on the other hand, had no pretensions of resuming his career as a magistrate in Canada with his only bachelor’s degree in law obtained in his home university.

Do not kid yourself, I could not claim to be engaged in the judiciaryhe confirms.

That’s how I decided to start studying education and it’s been a year since I finishedhe confides.

Satisfaction of having made the right choice

After two years of intense studies in education, Félix Bwitonzi says he is happy to have made a good choice. He has in his pocket the famous Canadian experience.

I am happy. I can easily find a job that satisfies me, that makes me pay all the bills here, I’m not complaininghe said.

For his part, Jeff Tshibutula Mpoy recalls that being a qualified teacher offers more opportunities.

We started and we finished. If tomorrow or the day after, I have the chance to obtain a permanent position, I will still give my all to give the best of myself..

According to Professor Matenda Zambi, the background of some students who worked elsewhere before attending the faculty of education will be put at the service of the entire Ontario education system.

All the experience that all these people have is something that will benefit our system, and this expertise is very important for our education system..