MAKKAH: More than 800 elderly men and women, including a 105-year-old woman, participated in a literacy campaign organized this summer by the Saudi Ministry of Education represented by the General Directorate of Education in Jazan.
About 233 male and 599 female students enrolled in 28 education centers across the region in the provinces of Samtah, Ahad al-Masarihah, Al-Harth and Al-Aridhah.
In cooperation with government authorities and the non-profit sector, several educational, cultural, social and health activities and events took place.
These activities aim to develop the life skills of the beneficiaries and ensure that they achieve their educational and cultural goals to guarantee their fair and comprehensive quality education.
One such student was 105-year-old Shaqraa Tohari, who enrolled at the Al-Dabra Education Center in Ahad Al-Masarihah, reflecting her strong desire to learn to read and write.
She said that she felt uplifted when she stood next to the blackboard to write the alphabet, or sat in her seat to write and read numbers, or read Surah Al-Fatiha or short surahs from the Holy Qur'an, while enjoying its support. teachers.
“I was excited about learning to read and write, even though I'm over 100 years old. It's a dream I've been waiting for many years and decades to come true,” she said.
“Despite all the challenges and the fact that I am getting older, this dream has come true. It's a unique opportunity that I couldn't pass up,” said Tohari.
The centurion revealed that she raised her five sons and four daughters all her life. She raised them and dedicated her life to them.
However, deep down she always wished she could teach them and help them with their homework.
“The Kingdom's interest in providing education to all and eradicating illiteracy helped me fulfill my dream. It motivated me and the women of my village to move forward in terms of learning and catch up on what we missed.
“Education and learning are everyone's dream to eradicate ignorance and illiteracy.
“(We) enrich their knowledge with simple science facts given to them by their teacher at the senior education center,” she added.
Tohari's son, Ibrahim, said his mother was overjoyed to enroll in the adult education program because it represented a dream she had waited for for many decades and believed in her right to learn, write and read like other women.
Ibrahim's 35-year-old sister Nourah drives their mother to the education center every afternoon and the other children help her with schoolwork.
When Ibrahim successfully completed his first year, the women of the village were extremely proud of his mother.
Ibrahim stated that what sets his mother apart is her zeal and determination to complete her studies and learn new subjects.
