Zimbabwe's oldest school 'kid'

A 38-YEAR-OLD man in Kwekwe has decided to go back to school, joining a Form three class at Thombankala Secondary School. However, Remember Galela's seemingly noble move has not gone down well with some parents, who feel he is too old to be in class with their children. Parents who talked to our sister paper, uMthunywa, blamed school authorities who admitted the student- cum-parent into the school.

"There is an old student at Thombankala Secondary School and we fear that he may spoil our children," said one parent who preferred anonymity.

Another parent said he feared Galela might end up courting fellow students and teachers. "I heard that this student has started courting students and teachers. This will mess up our children. We have asked teachers concerning this issue but they are denying it. However, there is no smoke without fire," he claimed.

Nonetheless, Galela told uMthunywa that he was trying to re-organise his life.

"Life is difficult out there and I have decided to come back to school because if you are not educated there is nothing one can do," he said.

He said fatherly responsibilities forced him to defy all odds and rub shoulders with students, most of whom are age mates with his children.

"I have a wife and kids to take care of. They need food and clothing. This is the reason why I had to mend my life by taking a bold decision of going back to school," he said.

Despite complaints from some parents, the headmaster of the school commended the behaviour displayed by his oldest student.

"We enrolled Galela because he is going to be a good role model to other people in the area. He is a good example to people because he has shown that despite one's age, anyone can go to school to learn and excel and perhaps improve their life. I'm not aware of the allegations of courting other students and teachers. We as a school view him as a disciplined and focused student," said the headmaster.

This is not the first time an "old student" has enrolled in primary school. Twice in Kenya, an 88-year-old man and a 92-year-old granny shocked the world when they enrolled at primary school. Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge (88) then in 2008 was the oldest man in Kenya to attend primary school. At the time of his enrollment, the Guinness Book of World Records listed him as the oldest person in the world to start primary school. Last year another Kenyan woman Priscilla Sitiene made headlines by learning with her great grand children. - uMthunywa