World's oldest primary school student Priscilla Sitieni, 99, dies in Kenya

Gulf Today Report

Priscilla Sitieni, 99, the world's oldest primary school student, died in Kenya.

A French film based on her perseverance in learning in her ninety years earned her praise from UNESCO.

Her grandson, Sammy Chepsiror, told the media that Priscilla, who was known as "Gogo Priscilla," (Granny Priscilla) died on Wednesday, at her home, after suffering from chest complications.

He pointed out that Gogo was in good health and attended her classes as usual, but she stopped attending school three days before her death after she felt chest pain that forced her to leave school, adding, "We are proud of her."

UNESCO noted that Priscilla was 94 years old when she persuaded the headmaster of the local school in her village in the Rift Valley, Kenya, to accept her application to complete her studies, praising this woman as “a role model inside and outside her community.”

In an interview with UNESCO last year, Priscilla said her aim for Back to School is to encourage young mothers in Kenya to go back to school after having children, rather than drop out of fear of social stigma.

"I wanted to set an example not only for them, but for other girls around the world who do not go to school," she said.

"If a woman does not receive an education, there will be no difference between her and a chicken."

Priscilla's efforts were covered in a French film entitled "Gogo", which allowed her last year to board a plane for the first time in her life and go to France to meet the wife of French President Brigitte Macron.

The co-writer of the film, Patrick Pessis, paid tribute to Priscilla, emphasizing in a tweet that her message of girls' education will live on forever.