CAIRO: An 83-year-old Egyptian woman has achieved a remarkable academic milestone by earning a PhD in sociology, inspiring many with her determination, resilience and lifelong commitment to education.
Amal Ismail Abdo, who hails from Egypt, received her PhD degree from the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, Mansoura University after completion of the research for her thesis.
Her doctorate was awarded on July 5, bringing to an end a long educational career that started late in her life.
Abdo faced many obstacles while pursuing education since she had passed middle school examination at the age of 38 years but stopped attending classes after suffering from cancer. Upon recovering, she continued her education and got her secondary level certificate at the age of 68.
Three years later, Abdo joined the Sociology Department of Mansoura University Faculty of Arts and attained a master’s degree in 2023 from there with distinction.
She has been commended widely for her dedication and commitment to her studies by many people including those in positions of authority. On July 6, Major General Tarek Marzouk, the Governor of Dakahlia Governorate, received Abdo at the governorate headquarters and congratulated her for her scholastic accomplishments.
Abdo’s case has come to serve as a representation of the importance of lifelong learning whereby age is never an obstacle in one’s desire to educate themselves.
