Priscilla Sitieni, the world’s oldest elementary school student who decided to go to school in her 90s, influenced French cinema and was awarded by UNESCO.
Her grandson, Sammy Chepsiroll, told The Standard that Gogo Priscilla (Granny Priscilla), whom she was affectionately known as, died at home Wednesday after suffering chest complications. said.
“Gogo was in good health and attended classes until three days before he died, but the pain in his chest became so severe that he was forced to drop out of school,” he told the newspaper on Thursday.
“Thank you for living 100 years. She made us all proud,” he added. She was 94 when she persuaded the principal of a local school in Kenya’s Rift Valley village to take her, according to UNESCO.
In an interview with a United Nations agency last year, her goal was to motivate young Kenyan mothers to return to school after having children, and force them to drop out for fear of shame and social stigma. She said no.
“I wanted to be a role model not just for her, but for other girls around the world who didn’t go to school. “Without education, there is no difference between you and a chicken,” she said.
“Education is your future. Education is forever, once you have it you can never lose it.”
Her efforts are documented in a French film called Go Go, and she flew to France for the first time last year to meet First Lady Brigitte Macron.
