Poland’s oldest high school student fails the final exam once more—but still refuses to give up.
Poland’s oldest high school student, 86-year-old Józef Peruga, has become a national symbol of perseverance after repeatedly attempting the Matura, the country’s high school leaving exam. Born in 1939, his education was disrupted by World War II, and he spent part of his childhood in a German camp. After the war, he worked as a locksmith, bus driver, and factory worker before later returning to education for personal fulfillment.
While sitting the exam alongside much younger students, he has passed several oral subjects, including German and geography, but continues to struggle with the written math and Polish sections. Recent setbacks were made harder by vision problems following eye surgery, which affected his ability to complete the written tests. Despite this, his determination has earned widespread admiration, including recognition from the mayor of Kalisz, and he has expressed his intention to keep trying.