SAMBAA K'E/TROUT LAKE - Desks at Charles Tetcho School are being filled long after children in Trout Lake have gone home for the day.

Four nights a week adults in the community are coming to the school to continue their education. In September teachers Elizabeth von Rhedey and Krystal Coffey began offering a class to help interested adults prepare to take the General Education Development tests. Successfully writing the tests will give the adults a high school equivalency diploma.

The inspiration for running the night class came from discussions with residents who wanted to take Aurora College courses or start apprenticeships but needed to upgrade their basic education first, said von Rhedey.

"From there it turned into lets do something," she said.

Both teachers decided to volunteer their time in the evenings, in addition to their regular teaching duties, to lead the class.

The night class has become very popular. Eight adults including Yvonne Jumbo, Valerie Lamalice, Lyla Pierre, Betty Jumbo, Joyce Jumbo, Carielyn Jumbo, Travis Jumbo and Craig Pierre regularly come to the class that runs Monday to Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m.

"It's excellent," said von Rhedey who teaches the English and social studies part of the course while Coffey focuses on the science and math component.

All of the participants have been very eager to learn, she said.

"They do their homework. They come in and they're very prepared," said von Rhedey.

The student's confidence is rising as the class progresses, she said.

"It's really a self-esteem thing to get your high school diploma," said von Rhedey.

Taking the class also requires dedication and hard work by the students, many of whom also have jobs, a partner and up to three kids who also need their time.

"It's quite amazing for them to take this on," von Rhedey said.

To help ensure they're success the community has pulled together to offer support. The Sambaa K'e Dene Band has purchased the books for the course and will be paying for the tests. The community's recreation co-ordinator offers organized activities in the evening that the adult learners can send their children to while they're in school.

Valerie Lamalice uses the recreation program for her two oldest children so she can go to the class.

"It's way easier on me and my husband," she said.

Lamalice, who has three children, said getting her Grade 12 diploma is something she's wanted to do for a long time. After leaving school in Grade 10 and going straight to work Lamalice said she now wants to finish her studies so she can get a better job and enter college.

The class is a "big challenge" but Lamalice said she's more interested in being in school now.

Having the class offered right in Trout Lake in the evenings is what's making it possible for people to get their high school diploma, said Lyla Pierre.

"It's a good opportunity for us young women, who dropped out, to get our education," she said.

Pierre, who also left school in Grade 10, said she's enjoying learning and hopes to use the diploma to improve her job prospects.

Part of Yvonne Jumbo's inspiration for taking the class was to set a good example for the community's children. Jumbo, who works as an aboriginal language specialist in the school, left her own studies in Grade 9.

"I encourage all the kids I work with and tell them to attend school daily. I thought I'd show them school is important," Jumbo said.