Don Erasmo Arguedas Solano, age 90, and his wife Fátima have been married for 31 years and are both attending classes at the Cindea de Miramar in Puntarenas, according to a March 11 announcement. Fátima began her studies a few years ago and received her sixth-grade diploma in 2025. She is now in seventh grade and hopes to complete her third year.
Erasmo joined the school last year after encouragement from Fátima, who wanted him to finish his primary education and also felt uneasy leaving him alone at home. Despite his age, Erasmo has achieved high grades, with his lowest marks being 88 and scoring 95 in mathematics. “The lowest grades Erasmo got were 88 and in mathematics 95; he does better than me,” said Fátima. She also mentioned that she received support from teachers MarÃa del Mar and Johanna, who helped her address academic challenges.
The couple attends classes from six in the evening until ten at night. They walk to school together, although Fátima finds the distance short while Erasmo considers it long. Now that Fátima has advanced to a higher level, they are no longer classmates, which makes Erasmo sad.
Erasmo said that it is always possible to study and learn something new regardless of age. Fátima, who is Nicaraguan by nationality, encourages young people and women to pursue education because there are many opportunities available. She said that if women do not strive for improvement or defend themselves, life can be difficult.
Vivian Fuentes, counselor at Cindea de Miramar, said the couple’s effort is admirable: “The effort of this couple is worthy of admiration because their desire to learn and be together has led them on this adventure.” The Cindea de Miramar operates its main campus at Liceo de Miramar with two satellite locations in Pitaya and Sardinal. It currently enrolls 376 students across primary and secondary levels.
Fuentes added: “Cindea offers an emerging program where residents of Miramar can also learn artistic drawing, secretarial techniques, aesthetics, music workshop, basic English, cocktail making among others; we help people achieve their dreams of obtaining a diploma or trade.”
