WORLD'S OLDEST PRIMARY PUPIL

Kimani Ng'ang'a from Kenya, aged 85, is the world's oldest primary school pupil. Kimani started a primary school in 2004, when the Kenyan government introduced free primary education. He didn't go to school as a child because his family couldn't pay the fees.

A successful student

While in school Kimani was a succussful student, he managed to become head boy of school and abode by the school rules and regulations. The Swahili and Kikuyu languages, and Maths were Kimani's favourite subjects, and he also enjoyed Scinece. He said English was very difficult but he would keep trying. He said he had learnt a lot from the other pupils. 'They teach me games,' he said, 'and I tell them stories of the colonial days.'

It's never too late

Kenya used to be a British colony, and ,in the 1950's, Kimani fought for independence with the Mau Mau rebels. He wanted to learn Maths to count his compensation money, he said. He also wanted to learn to read the bible. 'You never too old to learn,' he told reporters.

It's a record

In 1999, Kimani achieved a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest primary school pupil. He has 30 great-grandchildren. Two of them are in the were in the same school as him, but they were in higher years.

Kimani waited a long time for first day at school, but he never gave up and finally he succeeded. He wants to tell world leaders that all children should be eble to go to the school. 'To me, freedoom means going to school and learning,' he told reporters. He became a beacon of hope for many and a symbol of the importance of education.

The First Grader

There is also movie called 'The First Grader'. The First Grader is a 2010 film directed by Justin Chadwick, starring Naomie Harris, Oliver Litondo, and Tony Kgoroge and based on true story of Kimani. The power of an education, even at the most elementary level, provides the theme of this true-life story.