In the rural Rift Valley region of Kenya, Priscilla Sitieni, who turned ninety-nine on Friday, sat in a stone classroom taking notes alongside students more than 80 years her junior. Sitieni wore a school uniform consisting of a gray dress and a green sweater, and she stated that her desire to return to school was to set an example for her grandchildren and to pursue a new profession. Sitieni told Reuters, "I want to become a doctor because I used to work as a midwife," adding that her children supported her decision.
The Kenyan government began funding primary education costs in 2003, allowing some older individuals who dropped out of education to return to school to achieve their dreams. This policy has brought back some older students, including Sitieni, who traveled to Paris last year to launch a film about her story titled "Juju," meaning grandmother in her local language. She will also travel to New York to attend a screening of the film there. Sitieni is currently studying in the sixth grade.
She mentioned that she also enjoys other school activities with her grandchildren, including physical education classes. Teachers utilize her extensive experience to maintain order during lessons. Her teacher, Leonida Talam, said, "I make her watch the classroom to spot the troublemakers. She has succeeded; when I leave the room, the silence continues."
