Kenya. (News Of The South) -A 90 year old Kenyan great grandmother Priscilla Sitieni becomes the World`s oldest person in primary school after she enrolled at Leaders Vision Preparatory School in Rift valley village of Ndalat five years ago.
She attends school together with six of her great- great grandchildren.
Sitieni served her village as a midwife for a total of 65 years and has decided it is now time for her to learn to read and write.
Affectionately known as “Gogo”, which means grandmother in the local Kalenjin language, Mrs Sitienei grew up under British colonial masters and did not get the opportunity to go to school.
She aims at being able to read and comprehend the Bible, pass on her midwifery skills as well as write down her herbal remedies she uses in child birth.
“Too many older children are not in school. They even have children themselves,” she told the BBC. “They tell me they are too old. I tell them, ‘Well I am at school and so should you’.”
The late Kimani Maruge, 84, became the subject of a British-produced film called The First Grader, when he enrolled in a primary school in Eldoret, Kenya, after the government announced the roll-out of free and universal primary education in 2003.
Sitieni is following the footsteps of Maruge.
Mrs Sitienei faced opposition when she first tried to enrol at her school, but head teacher David Kinyanjui said she is now a “blessing and a motivator”.
“I’m very proud of her,” he said. “She is loved by every pupil, they all want to learn and play with her.
“She is doing well … considering her age I can say I have seen a big difference in this school since she came.”
Mrs Sitienei is now a prefect and takes part in Maths, English, PE, dance, drama and singing. She wears the school’s blue uniform and green jumper and shares a dormitory with one of her great-great grandchildren, where she delivers babies at weekends.
“I want to say to the children of the world, especially girls, that education will be your wealth, don’t look back and run to your father,” she said. “With education you can be whatever you want, a doctor, lawyer or a pilot.”
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