World’s Oldest Student Forced to Drop Out

88-year-old Kimani Nganga Maruge began his education in 2004 after Kenya introduced free primary schooling. That’s when he set the world record for the oldest person to ever start primary school. He attended for four years until last week when he was taken to an elderly care facility.

The school’s head teacher, Jane Obinchu, said he had never missed school before and so when he failed to show up on Thursday, they began to look for him.

“We immediately had to establish what had gone wrong to ascertain our fears before his fellow pupils told us they had seen him aboard a Red Cross vehicle,” she told the AFP news agency.

The Red Cross later confirmed Mr Maruge had been taken into care.

Ms Obinchu expressed her disappointment at the decision and said it may have been hastily taken.

“He is an international figure who was very keen with his studies. I doubt if he can accept his studies to be interrupted,” she added.

The chairman of the local parents’ and teachers’ association, Albert Kebenei, called on the ministry of education to “come to our rescue” and explained that Mr Maruge had dramatically increased enrolment at the school by inspiring families.

Mr. Maruge had wanted to earn a veterinary diploma. Link -via Arbroath