As young pupils who sat this years Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams either approve or disapprove their performances in the exams, a group of elderly women in Siaya are completely satisfied with their results in the same exams.
19 elderly women from Upanda Village in Siaya County beat all odds, age being the main one, to join younger candidates from across the nation in doing this year’s final examinations.
The group sat the paper at an adult education class sponsored by the Pendeza Africa in at Upanda primary school where 61-year-old Adhiambo Odhiambo passed with flying colors, scoring 302 marks out of the possible 500
The lady who noted that she never had the opportunity to get the white man’s wisdom during her earlier days was only 19 marks shy of the top scorer of the institution.
“I never had the opportunity to go to school when I was young but I was hopeful one day I would get a chance to learn to read and write,’’ she is quoted by the Mediamax Digital.
The other is Wilfrida Okello (70), popularly known as ‘Principal’, who aspires to be a teacher after garnering 239 marks.
The mother of 5 and grandmother of 12 scored 64 marks in English, 35 in Swahili, 55 in maths, 38 in Social Studies and 47 in science and is hopeful of getting a slot in form one next year.
“I am eager to join Form One and continue with my dream of studying to the highest level,’’ she is quoted.
The others, well within their 50s, 60s, and 70s were also happy with their achievements, though most scored below average, not beating the 250 mark threshold.
Pendeza Africa Coordinator Joanne Kepher noted that the organization is on the right track as it seeks to expel illiteracy in the region.
“Ever since we started this programme, over a hundred grandmothers have been able to learn how to read and write and they can in turn monitor the progress of their grandchildren,” she is quoted.