She is believed to be the oldest primary school pupil in the world. Sitting at the front of class four in her school uniform, Priscilla Sitienei listens intently while she writes the English names
of animals in her notebook. She joined Leaders Vision Preparatory School five years ago and has also served her village of Ndalat in the Rift Valley as a midwife for the last 65 years. In fact, she has helped deliver some of her own classmates, who are aged between 10 and 14.
Affectionately known as “Gogo”, which means grandmother in the local Kalenjin language, she says at 90 she is finally learning to read and write – an opportunity she never had as a child. She said: “I’d like to be able to read the Bible; I also want to inspire children to get an education.
Too many older children are not in school. They even have children themselves. They tell me they are too old. I tell them, ‘Well I am at school and so should you.’ I see children who are lost, children who are without fathers, just going round and round, hopeless. I want to inspire them to go to school.
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. With education you can be whatever you want, a doctor, lawyer or a pilot.” At first the school turned her away but soon understood how committed she was to learning.
Now a prefect, she takes part in all of the classes – Maths, English, PE, dance, drama and singing. She also tells stories to her classmates under trees near the playing fields to make sure her knowledge of local customs are passed on….. d only problem now is dt, wen she gets to secondary school she might gt distracted by pressure from boys wanting to date her…..
