It has been a common thing not only here in Kenya but all over the world for men and women - at old age - to go back to school to polish or to add up some tips to their dusty brains. Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge from Kenya, the Guinness World Record Holder did it anyway and many followed suit.It is therefore not news any more if you choose to walk into our local Universities for example; one of this fine evenings you will find people rivalling my grandfather's age, seeking knowledge. I also have a record of being in campus with some old dudes. Can you imagine in 2008 at first year with a forty seven year old mama or man?
Some of these old dudes are sometimes discouraged or demotivated by either the young folks or the lectures themselves. I remember sometime back when one old classmate of ours got in class late and only for the lecturer to vehemently react. "Hey you! You must be lost! I don't teach old guards." It was bad anyway bearing in mind that this lecture had trained in the west.
On the other hand, the men would in most cases take our girls away from us with ease of experience, I believe, but bottom line, we did not take it lightly!!! We repelled more than our lecturers would do. These old chaps, had a rough time indeed, falling in the wrong peer group at the wrong time.
Therefore, there are a lot of challenges when it comes to going back to school at old age. Though, many do it for great reasons like: To get that pay rise or a better pay check, promotion or to increase the amount of benefits when that retiring age comes - but remember, some of them are already there or past that age.So, many of those who are taking education lightly or for granted, should be told right in their ear drums that, it never ends and one does not cease to be called a student so long as he/she has once been a student!
Lawyers and practising advocates will brag in some way, "... this is why we call ourselves students of law in order to remain relevant at all times ..." Said one prominent Kenyan lawyer.
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