THE trite phrase, education is gold, has been given new shine by the silver brigade.
Mr Leong finally has a chance to go to university. Picture: KENNETH KOH
Take Mr Chen Woo Teck, 74, who is the oldest student at SIM University (UniSim).
His quest for knowledge and desire to learn sees him attending evening lectures two to three times a week.
He has been doing so for the last three years.
UniSim is looking to have more senior citizens enrol in their courses in pursuit of lifelong learning, and offers a structured concession on the course fees for this group under its new General Studies Programme.
Mr Chen is working towards getting a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese language and literature. He gets 20 per cent discount off his fees, which are more than $20,000.
This UniSim programme is jointly taught by Beijing Normal University.
A retired primary school teacher and Chinese curriculum developer at the Education Ministry, Mr Chen works part-time, supervising student teachers at the National Institute of Education.
As it turns out, some of his student teachers are also his fellow coursemates.
And so is former Member of Parliament Leong Horn Kee, 55, whom he used to tutor in Mandarin.
Speaking to The New Paper yesterday in Mandarin, peppered with some English phrases, Mr Chen said of his back-to-school experience as a senior student: 'Our understanding power and analysis is good. But memorising things can be very difficult.
'I have to read my notes again and again.'
It gets tiring, he admitted, and he can read for only an hour at a stretch, before he needs a break.
Mr Chen, who reads the newspapers every day and is computer literate, uses the Internet to retrieve his lecture notes.
The lecturers have also been encouraging.
When he first started the programme, one of them - Dr Luo Futeng - offered him extra coaching sessions.
NO CHANCE IN YOUTH
Explaining why he was pursuing his degree, Mr Chen said: 'When I was young, I didn't have the chance to go to university. I was from a poor family.
'My father was taken away by Japanese soldiers and he never returned.
'My mother worked as a washerwoman and did various odd jobs to support us.'
He has an older brother and younger sister - both have since died.
Mr Chen said he went to Chinese High School, but his education was disrupted by the war.
When he finished the then-equivalent of A levels, he was 25.
That was in 1958.
He began working as a teacher immediately, while studying for his teaching certificate from the then-Teachers' Training College.
After that, he had to work to support his family.
His four children are now all working.
The eldest is in the US in the IT line, another's an engineer-turned teacher; his third is an engineer and his youngest daughter is doing corporate finance in a local bank.
His wife is a homemaker and they have six grandchildren.
So, what does he hope to do when he graduates with his degree next year?
Mr Chen said that if his health permits, he wants to pursue a Masters.
'Singapore is a small country. Every one must be of some quality. As long as you have the spirit of learning, you can learn almost everything.'
His coursemate, Mr Leong, said that Mr Chen 'always does his homework and attends all his classes, unless he is overseas'.
Mr Leong added: 'I am also an old student. And since our memory is not as good as when we were young, we have to struggle when it comes to the exams.'
He said that Mr Chen has been an encouragement and gave him a lot of help.
Meanwhile, Mr Chen's children have also been very supportive.
Mr Chen said: 'They told me that since I used to pay for their school fees, they will now pay for mine.'
While he declined their offer because he can afford the fees, he said: 'Their support has been invaluable.'
taken:
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/st...40192,00.html?
UniSim's oldest student: My memory's not as good now but... 
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