The world’s oldest primary school student whose name has been given as Priscilla Sitieni, who inspired a French film and received UNESCO recognition, has reportedly died in Kenya at the age of 99.
Mr. Sammy Chepsiror who is her grandson told local reporters that Gogo Priscilla (Granny Priscilla), as she was fondly known, passed on yesterday after developing a chest complication.
‘Gogo has been in good health and attending her classes until three days to her demise when she developed chest pains, which forced her out of school,’ he said.
We are thankful for the 100 years of her life. She made all of us proud,’ he added.
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Africa Today News, New York reports that she was 94 when she persuaded the headmaster of the local school in her village in Kenya’s Rift Valley to admit her, according to UNESCO, which hailed her as “a role model for her community and beyond”.
In an interview with the UN agency last year, she said her aim was to motivate young mothers in Kenya to return to school after having children, instead of dropping out due to shame or fear of social stigma.
‘I wanted to show an example not only to them but to other girls around the world who are not in school,’ she said.
‘Without education, there will be no difference between you and a chicken,’ she said.
‘Education is your future. Education remains in your head forever and you cannot lose it once you have it.’
Her efforts were documented in a French film titled “Gogo”, which led her to take a plane for the first time last year to visit France and meet first lady Brigitte Macron.
The film’s co-writer Patrick Pessis paid tribute to her on Thursday, tweeting: “Her message about girls’ education lives on.”