BUTTERWORTH: A couple in their sixties were overjoyed when they achieved their dream of jointly receiving their scrolls at the 20th Open University Malaysia (OUM) Northern zone convocation ceremony here yesterday.
Razali Mohd Noor, 63 and his wife, Ramlah Daud, 62, both civil servant pensioners, received their Bachelor's Degree in Islamic Studies from OUM's Vice-President (Planning and Strategy), Prof. Ramli Bahroom.
Razali, from Teluk Intan, Perak, said that after retiring from the Dental Department in the Ministry of Health, he and his wife decided to obtain a degree together, as they did not have the chance to do so when they were young.
“Both of us are interested in religious studies, so we decided to take this course at OUM, and an offer by the university for senior citizens to study spurred us on," he told reporters.
Ramlah said that they received encouragement from their four children, all of whom have also obtained university degrees.
She added that throughout their four years of study, they were among students much younger than they were, but they were determined to continue and get their degrees.
At the convocation, 450 graduates earned their diplomas, and bachelor's and masters degrees in various fields. -- BERNAMA