Sitting alongside teenagers, high school dropouts in their 40s and 50s took a second shot at the graduation exams that eluded them decades ago.

Thuan is pictured waiting to take the exam in Binh Phuoc last Saturday morning

Or, in some cases, a third shot, or fourth, or more.

One pair of quinquagenarians admitted to failing the test eight times.

“Previously, our families were poor and we could not pursue the studies,” said Danh Ut Hien, 54, of Nga Nam District in Soc Trang Province. “Now the situation has gotten better, so we decided to get back to school, pass the high school exam, and make our children proud.”

Hien took the test at Mai Thanh The High School with 53-year-old Le Van Hoang, whom he treats like a brother. If the ninth time is the charm, the best friends will receive graduation certificates.

Similarly, Nguyen Thi Thuan, 48 and from Bu Gia Map District, Binh Phuoc Province, failed the exam once before, despite being a kindergarten teacher for 18 years.

“Because of my poor financial situation and having to earn a living to raise my children, I had no chance to continue my study,” Thuan said. “As they have grown up now, I am also trying to learn again.”

She chalks up her previous failure to old age and bad memory. But after Thuan’s children grew up to be high school teachers, they tutored her in math at night.

“I can take in social subjects but have difficulties with science,” Thuan said. “I often ask my children for help.”

Source: Tuoi Tre