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Priscilla Sitienei returned to primary school in rural Kenya at the age of 90 and, at 98, was in sixth grade alongside classmates eight decades younger. A midwife for 65 years, she entered the cinema, met the First Lady of France, and held a simple and disconcerting dream: to study medicine.
In February 2022, in the village of Ndalat, in Nandi County, rural Kenya, Priscilla Sitienei was turning 99 years old in the classroom. Wearing a gray dress and green sweater, the uniform of Leaders Vision Preparatory School, she took notes alongside classmates more than eight decades younger, according to Reuters, which documented her school routine in January of that year. A midwife for 65 years, Priscilla Sitienei had never sat in a school desk until she was 90.
The story reached G1, which also covered the case in February 2022: Priscilla Sitienei was not only newsworthy for journalism. She had already traveled to Paris for the premiere of a film about her journey, met the French First Lady Brigitte Macron, and still planned to go to New York. All this without giving up the uniform and classes from Monday to Friday.
A whole life without school
In Kenya, primary education was not universal and free until 2003, which prevented entire generations from accessing school during childhood. Priscilla Sitienei grew up in this context, according to accounts she gave to Reuters. Without formal access to education, she learned the craft she would practice for decades: helping women give birth in home deliveries, using traditional knowledge and medicinal plants. Mídia NINJA
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Priscilla comes from the remote village of Ndalat, in Nandi County, and always wanted to be a doctor. Without that opportunity, she used her traditionally learned skills to help mothers give birth safely at home, according to a report by China Daily. She worked as a midwife for 65 years and even delivered some of her own classmates who now sit beside her in school, according to Mídia Ninja, which gathered details of the story from Reuters. China DailyMídia NINJA
The law that changed everything for the elderly
“I would like to become a doctor because I used to be a midwife,” Priscilla Sitienei told Reuters, adding that her children supported the decision. The statement was made in a context that only became possible thanks to a change in public policy. In 2003, the Kenyan government began subsidizing the cost of primary education, allowing older members of society who missed the chance to study in their youth to resume this path, as reported by G1 in its coverage of the case. TerraTerra
The director of Leaders Vision Preparatory School, David Kinyanjui, said that integrating Priscilla into the class was challenging at first, but her determination convinced school authorities to enroll her. She entered without speaking English, communicated only in Kalenjin and Swahili, and agreed to start from the most basic level, according to China Daily. And it was from scratch that Priscilla Sitienei stepped into a classroom for the first time in her life, already over 90 years old. China Daily
The great-granddaughter who dropped out of school and changed everything
The decision to return to studying had a concrete and human trigger. Priscilla told Reuters that the idea came when her great-granddaughter dropped out of school after becoming pregnant. She jokingly asked if there was any tuition money left, the young woman said yes, and that was when Priscilla announced she would use the money to start studying herself. Voice of America
The story was retold by G1 and Reuters with the same outcome: the great-granddaughter did not return. Priscilla did. What the grandmother hoped was that the great-granddaughter would resume her studies, but when the young woman refused, Priscilla decided to go to school herself, according to Público, which republished the original Reuters report. The turning point did not come from a motivational speech. It came from a silent bet made by a woman almost a hundred years old. PÚBLICO
The classroom where she was both monitor and student at the same time
Inside the school, Priscilla Sitienei was not just another student. Teacher Leonida Tallam stated that she used Priscilla to help control the class during her absence from the room, and that the strategy worked: when Priscilla was in charge, the class remained silent. A great-grandmother as a monitor for children aged 11 and 12 was not exactly the scenario any teacher would imagine. Africanews
Her performance also surprised her classmates. According to teacher Tallam, Priscilla’s favorite subjects were science, Christian education, and mathematics. She was very attentive during classes and had the best handwriting in the class, according to Africanews. A 12-year-old classmate, Melvin Misos, admitted to the same broadcaster that he had to work harder after Priscilla outperformed him in a regional exam. Africanews
Paris, Brigitte Macron and the red carpet in uniform
The impact of Priscilla Sitienei’s story reached far enough to make it to European cinema. In August 2021, she took a ten-day trip to France for the premiere of the film “Gogo Priscilla,” produced by Ladybirds Cinema and directed by French filmmaker Pascal Plisson, according to China Daily. It was her first time traveling by plane and her first time leaving Kenya. China Daily
During her stay in Paris, Priscilla met with the French First Lady Brigitte Macron, visited the Kenyan embassy, and gave several interviews to international media, as reported by The Standard. She returned to Ndalat and was welcomed as a heroine at Eldoret airport, awaited by her schoolmates in uniform. The 98-year-old lady had walked on the red carpet in Paris without leaving her green sweater behind. The StandardThe Standard
“Education has no age limit”
When asked about her plans, Priscilla Sitienei did not hesitate. “I used to work as a traditional midwife, helping women with childbirth complications. Now I am studying to become a doctor. I don’t believe education has an age limit,” she said, in a statement reproduced by Africa Global Village based on material from Africanews. Africaglobalvillage
“I stay fit. I can jump, even if not as much as they do, but at least I move my body. That’s my joy,” Priscilla told Reuters when asked about physical education classes. She passed away in November 2022, at the age of 99, days after developing chest pain. Until three days before her death, she was still attending classes, according to the Portuguese newspaper Notícias ao Minuto, which followed Priscilla’s last days based on information from the family. Voice of AmericaNotícias ao Minuto
Do you know someone who went back to study as an adult or achieved a dream that seemed impossible due to age? Share in the comments.
Sources consulted:
G1 (Reuters) — “Back to school at 98, Kenyan sets example for next generation,” Feb 15, 2022
Reuters / VOA Learning English — “Kenyan Woman Goes Back to Primary School at 98,” Feb 11, 2022
China Daily — “At 98, Kenya grandma chases school dream,” Apr 7, 2022
Africanews — “Kenya: 98 year old primary school student Priscilla Sitienei becomes role model,” Mar 14, 2022
Africa Global Village — republication of Africanews, Mar 2022
The Standard (Kenya) — “Meet Kenyan granny, 98, a standard six pupil and superstar in France”, Sep. 2021
Público (Portugal) — “Priscilla returned to school at 98 years old, to set an example for new generations”, Feb 9, 2022
Mídia Ninja — “98-year-old midwife returns to study and says: ‘I want to be a doctor'”, Feb 16, 2022
Notícias ao Minuto (Portugal) — “The world’s oldest Primary School student has died: she was 99 years old”, Nov 18, 2022
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