A woman from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don has belatedly begun her primary school education at the age of 21, her new headmistress told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

"Her mother died and she was neglected by her father. In fact, no one took care of her and so she received no education," Valentina Tokareva said.

Olga Sobur started working at the age of nine, helping her mother at a local market. She continued working there when her mother died six years later.

Despite her complete lack of a formal education, Olga managed to teach herself to read and write.

"I was told that I can still go to school, and so I did. Education will do you no harm - it is always interesting to study no matter how old you are," she said.

Olga is expected to complete her primary education by May, and get a school certificate in two or three years.

ROSTOV-ON-DON, January 27 (RIA Novosti)