The First Grader
September 26th 2011 02:41
Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to start primary school—he enrolled in the first grade on January 12th 2004, aged 84. Although he had no papers to prove his age, Maruge believed he was born in 1920.
Maruge attended Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Eldoret, Kenya; he said that the government's announcement of universal and free elementary education in 2003 prompted him to enroll.
In 2005 Maruge, who was a model student, was elected head boy of his school.
In September 2005, Maruge boarded a plane for the first time in his life, and headed to New York City to address the United Nations Millennium Development Summit on the importance of free primary education.
Maruge's property was stolen during the 2007-2008 post-election violence, and he contemplated quitting school. During early 2008 he lived in a refugee camp, where he was reportedly a minor celebrity, four kilometers from his school, but still attended classes every day
A film about Kimani Maruge, starring Oliver Litondo and Naomie Harris titled The First Grader, is set to be released on May 13, 2011. The British-produced film was shot on location in the Rift Valley in Kenya. The film will be released in Australia on September 29th, 2011. The trailer is below:
In 2005 Maruge, who was a model student, was elected head boy of his school.
In September 2005, Maruge boarded a plane for the first time in his life, and headed to New York City to address the United Nations Millennium Development Summit on the importance of free primary education.
Maruge's property was stolen during the 2007-2008 post-election violence, and he contemplated quitting school. During early 2008 he lived in a refugee camp, where he was reportedly a minor celebrity, four kilometers from his school, but still attended classes every day
A film about Kimani Maruge, starring Oliver Litondo and Naomie Harris titled The First Grader, is set to be released on May 13, 2011. The British-produced film was shot on location in the Rift Valley in Kenya. The film will be released in Australia on September 29th, 2011. The trailer is below:
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