You may not believe it, but this is real. She is probably Ghana's oldest basic school pupil and arguably the world's oldest school child, likely to get into the Guinness Book of Records. Mary Gyabea is a 64-year-old JHS One pupil at Nsesresu-Asuhyiae D/A Junior High School, near Wamfie in the Dormaa East District of the Brong Ahafo Region. Incidentally, she attends the same school with five of her grandchildren who are her seniors in the school. Mary told DAILY GUIDE and a team of officials from the Dormaa East District Directorate of Education that she wanted to continue to the secondary school, after which she would work as a secretary. By the time she realizes her dream, Mary would be around 70 years old. According to her, she had a burning desire to learn how to read, write and speak good English, hence her decision to go back to school. She also wanted to motivate the youth and serve as a role model to the children in the area, especially the girl-child. The 64-year-old woman admitted that learning was not easy at her age, but she was putting in all efforts to make a mark in the school as she had seen great improvement in her life since she went back to the classroom. She indicated that she started from class three, the stage at which she dropped out of school during childhood, and commended the teachers for paying special attention to her learning needs. Mary has 10 children. Her oldest child is over 40 years while the youngest one is 17 years old. Her immediate concern is how to take care of her grandchildren in school. According to her, she was embarrassed when she initially started going to school, explaining that some pupils called her all sorts of names. However, she defied all odds and pursued her agenda. The Wamfie District Director of Education, Ankomah Boateng, has expressed his intention to honour Mary and a 54-year-old primary six man who schools at Kramokrom D/A Primary School, during the up-coming 6th March Independence Day celebration parade in the district. Members of the District Education Directorate team who took DAILY GUIDE round the school are Justina Owusu-Banahene, District Coordinator of Basic Schools, Nana Addae Kumi, District Welfare Officer and Sampson Sampana, District Public Relations Officer. Source: Daily Guide