环球英语 1216 The Oldest First Grader

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Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Robin Basselin.

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And I’m Ryan Geerstma. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

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In the mountains of Kenya, an old man stands at a gate. His skin is aged and his hair is white. He stands bent over his walking stick. He is wearing blue school clothes. And he has a blanket over his shoulders. This man waits outside the Kapkenduiywa Primary school near Eldoret, Kenya. This is not the first time the man has come to the school. He has come many times over the last few months.

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Today, he watches the children sing in the school yard. He waits at the gate for the head teacher. He asks her the same question as he always does. He asks if he can attend the school. In the past, the head teacher told him no. She told him that this school is for children. However, this time is different. This time she says yes. Today, 84-year-old Kimani Maruge will start his first day of school.

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This story is from the recent film “The First Grader.” The film is based on the real life story of Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge. Today’s Spotlight is on Kimani Maruge and his desire to become educated.

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In 2003, the Kenyan government passed a new law. This law established that the government would provide free education for all primary school students. In Kenya, primary school includes eight grades, or levels. Usually, primary students start Grade One when they are six or seven years old. However, when Kenya began free education, many older children started school for the first time. New students filled schools all over the country. In many Grade One classrooms, children had to share seats or even sit on the floor.

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Schools were prepared for the thousands of new students. However, no one was prepared for a student like Kimani Maruge. At 84, he set a new record in the Guinness Book of World Records. He became the oldest person in the world to ever start primary school.

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When Maruge decided he wanted to go to school, nothing could stop him. He told the Mirror,

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“At first, the head teacher said no. I thought it must be because I did not have the official school clothes. So, I saved my money and bought clothes.”

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However, Maruge had to visit the school four more times before the head teacher let him stay. Head teacher, Jane Obinchu told the Mirror,

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“At first, we thought this was insane. But I knew we would have to admit a man who was so serious about learning... I told the teachers to prepare for the oldest school boy ever.”

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Many people wonder why Maruge wanted to start school at such an old age. The reason is simple - he was not able to attend school when he was younger.

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Maruge was born around 1920. He had no official papers to tell him the exact date of his birth. He was the oldest son of seven children. When he was old enough to attend school he could not go. Instead, he helped his father work on their farm. He sacrificed his education so that his younger brothers and sisters could go to school.

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In the 1950s, Maruge joined the Mau Mau rebels. This group of Kenyans were mainly from the Kikuyu tribe. Together, they fought against the British people that occupied Kenya. Kenyans did not gain their independence from this rebellion. But many people believe this rebellion began a process. This process led to Kenyan independence in 1963.

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After years of farming and fighting, Maruge then had a wife and children of his own. He needed to continue farming to support his family. Many years passed. Maruge raised 12 children. He never had the time or money to spend on his own education.

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However, in 2003, that all changed. The government had promised to provide free education for all. So, Maruge decided it was his time to go to school.

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Maruge wanted to learn to read and write for many reasons. He wanted to be able to read letters from friends, family and the government. He also wanted to be able to read official business papers. He wanted to be able to make more educated decisions. He told the Mirror,

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“I have suffered so many problems from being uneducated. People used to cheat me when I bought goods.”

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However, letters and business were not the most important reasons Maruge wanted to go to school. For Maruge, religion was the most important reason. Maruge was a Christian. He had attended church all of his life. However, he had to depend on religious leaders and his children to learn about the Christian Bible. He told news writer Kate Snow,

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“All my life I have wanted to read the Bible.”

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When Maruge started school, he attended with three of his children’s children. They were all in higher grades than Maruge. However, with much hard work, Maruge learned quickly. One of Maruge’s teachers told the Mirror,

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“He is so intelligent. When he came to school, he could not write his name. But now, he reads the newspapers. We are learning from him.”

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Many people agreed with Maruge’s teacher. Maruge was a student, but he also had much to teach. In 2005, the United Nations invited Kimani Maruge to come to New York City. They wanted him to speak about the importance of free education. Maruge accepted the invitation. And in his speech he said,

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“I want all children in the world to be educated. That is what I really hope to see.”

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Even after great success, there were still barriers to Maruge’s education. In 2007, riots began in Kenya. Two major tribes were fighting over land and government rule. Maruge had to move to a refugee camp where it was safe. At the time, he was 88 years old. The camp was more than three kilometers from his school. However, the long walk did not stop him from attending school. He told the news organization Reuters,

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“It is hard. There is no one to help me walk. I go to the school alone. But the urge to learn keeps me going.”

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Kimani Maruge continued to go to school until he became sick in 2008. And on August 14th, 2009 Maruge died from stomach cancer. He was 90 years old.

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Although Maruge is now dead, his story lives on. The film, The First Grader will continue to spread his story. And his message is simple. As Maruge once told the Mirror,

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"A person is never too old to learn."

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The writer of this program was Robin Basselin. The producer was Mark Drenth. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to and read this program again on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net This .program is called “The Oldest First Grader.”

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We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.