Shining proof of joy of education

When Rufinus arap Taa grows up, he wants to become a herbalist. He is an above average student, newly enrolled at Korabariet Secondary School in Kuresoi District, and where his leadership skills have been recognised in just a few weeks. Taa is class prefect and counsellor.

But the Form One student is no ordinary student. He is aged 75, has six children and 20 grandchildren.

In fact, when he chose to go to school, his grandson, Mike Chepkwony, was one of his classmates.

Today, Taa is the oldest student in the country, taking the path trodden by Kimani Maruge, the octogenarian who died last year at the age of 84 after several years in school.

Grand Corruption

Maruge, who enrolled for school when free primary education was introduced in 2003, came to personify the success of the scheme now riddled with claims of grand corruption, with calls for Education minister Sam Ongeri and Permanent Secretary Karega Mutahi’s resignation.

Mzee Rufinus arap Taa in class above and below. Inset, Mzee Kimani Maruge. [PHOTOS: BONIFACE THUKU/STANDARD]

Maruge entered the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest pupils in the world and is now the subject of a Hollywood film being shot in South Africa.

Taa revived his educational dreams in 2006 at the age of 71. His life-long dream has been to pursue herbal medicine, which he took up to rear his family, but still cherished receiving formal training to understand his field better.

Taa says education will enable him label different categories of herbal medicine he intends to keep extracting from medicinal trees.

"Since our home is located within the expansive Mau forest, which is rich in indigenous trees, I need to advance my knowledge in differentiating their medical value," he says.

Taa joined Class Four at Korabariet Primary School in 2006. "The Mzee could not read and write when he was enrolled at the school to begin his journey of improving his skills as an herbalist. In fact my teachers did extra work to sharpen his skills. He learned to read and write at Standard Five," reveals the Korabariet primary school head Richard Maritim, adding that the elderly student skipped Standard Six to join Standard Seven due to his hard work and dedication.

"We wanted him to complete (primary) school while still strong and healthy," Maritim adds.

Complete school Taa did, and he did it spectacularly, emerging among the top pupils by scoring 266 out of a possible 500 marks.

Taa scored an A- in science, emerging among the four best candidates in the division in that specific subject. He beat 19 candidates in his class to take position 10. Among those Taa outshone was his grandson, Mike, who scored 229 marks.

The old man says he did not get a chance to go to school at his tender age because there were no schools around and his parents never valued education.

"I was busy looking after my father’s cows and goats deep in the forest and the issue of education took a back seat among the Dorobo community whose pre-occupation was hunting and gathering," the old man adds.

Taa is upbeat with sitting with his "grand children," as he calls fellow classmates, adding that the knowledge acquired since joining school has enabled him to speak and write in English and Kiswahili languages, besides doing some arithmetic.

"Education is good, it has opened my mind and now I can read and write," says an upbeat Taa.

Maritim says Taa displayed respect for his teachers and was focused on his studies.

"Taa was hard working and of good morals and that is why we appointed him to be the school head boy," an elated Maritim said.

Korabariet Secondary School principal Leonard Kirui said Taa reported to school last Monday and was appointed class prefect.

Temporary Reprieve

But the old man is having problems paying his fees, and he cannot afford a new uniform. For now, Taa is using his old school uniform.

He got a temporary reprieve last week when the United Democratic Movement (UDM) party paid a portion of his fees.

The party’s leader General (Rtd) John Koech presented a Sh6,000 cheque at a function in Chepkinoiyo trading centre in Kuresoi.

For now Taa says his sights are set on completing his secondary education to join Egerton University to further his knowledge in herbal medicine.

"I like sciences very much and I want to learn much about Chemistry so that I can tell the chemical composition of all herbs and their contents," he says.

Taa, who was born in 1935 in Bomet District is married to Rebecca Cherono Taa, with whom he has raised six children, all of whom support his belated quest for education.

Taa’s role model, Maruge, was a former freedom fighter who attended Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Eldoret. Just as Taa, Maruge said that the Government’s decision to extend universal and free elementary education in 2003 prompted him to enrol.

In 2005 Maruge, who was a model student, was elected head boy of his school.

In another major milestone, Maruge made his maiden flight in life in 2005 to New York City to address the United Nations Millennium Development Summit on the importance of free primary education.

At this stage, it is hard to tell where Taa goes from here, or what shall become of him. He has discounted common sage that one does not learn to be left-handed in old age. It is never too late to be what you want to be.

 

Read all about: Rufinus arap Taa Korabariet Secondary School Kuresoi District Kimani Maruge free primary education

 

 

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