Manama: A Saudi father and his son sat for the same exam in the same room in a school in Makkah in western Saudi Arabia.
The 50-year-old father, a watchman in a girls’ school, had been taking evening lessons to obtain the middle school degree.
When he was called for the end-of-year exams, he found himself in the same testing room as his son, a regular student at an intermediate school.
The father said that he did not mind the situation and insisted that he did not want to help his son who was sitting near him cheat by providing him some of answers.
“I want him to receive a sound education and to rely solely on himself,” he said, quoted by Saudi daily Okaz.
The father said that despite his old age, he was ambitious and was looking to further his studies.
“There is nothing that can stop me from receiving the highest degrees possible,” he said.
Online users applauded his courage and praised his determination to achieve his objectives.
“You are implementing the principle of true Islam that calls for lifelong education. No-one is too old to learn,” Abu Msamah posted.
Some users thanked him for his integrity and for not allowing his son to cheat his way to success.
However, some users said that the father was wasting his time trying to obtain academic degrees, arguing that he was too old to benefit from them in a professional capacity.
“This is pure stagecraft and there are no benefits from a school or university degree for you,” Al Waleed posted. “You should rather focus on the education of your children who will achieve what you have not done.”
