Nepali man, 69, returns to high school

A 69-year-old man from Nepal may be among the oldest high school students, after he decided he wanted to get an education.

Durage Kami, who was born into a poor family and lived too far away from a school to attend, now walks the one-and-a-half hour commute to school each day.

He was recently featured in a video produced by Great Big Story, released this week, which followed him as he went about a normal day in the tenth grade.

“Even though my teachers are younger than me, I respect them and behave like a student,” Mr Kami says in the video.

“My favourite subjects are social studies and population.”

Mr Kami’s younger peers affectionately call him “Bajee”, which means ‘grandpa’ in Nepali.

Mr Kami said he loves to play football and volleyball during his lunch break, saying it makes “my soul feel satisfied”.

The student and grandfather of eight says his dream is to continue his studies in the future.

“With the wisdom of age, I want to show the light of knowledge to everyone,” he said.

“Coming into my old age, I realise it is important to be an example of hope and willpower.

“I want to lift people up. That’s why I’m studying.”

Mr Kami’s full story can be viewed here.