“Never too late”

It is never too late to pursue formal education.

That is the mantra that 45-year-old Sereana Korovulavula stands by as she pursues her education with her peers through the Matua Programme in Nabua Secondary School.

Yesterday, Ms Korovulavula was among the 9088 Year 13 students who sat their external examination across the country.

Determined to push on despite her age, Ms Korovulavula said her family has been the driving force in her pursuit of academic success under the Matua programme.

“It has never been easy, but I know it will be worth it,” she said.

“I joined the Matua programme last year; I passed Year 12 and I’m hopeful that I will complete Year 13 as well,” Ms Korovulavula said.

Originally from Nabudrau Village in Rewa, Ms Korovulavula is a mother of six.

“I’m unemployed as I take care of my youngest child who is three years old while juggling school.

“I heard that the Vice Principal at Koro High at that time was a Matua ex-scholar when we used to live at Naqaidamu Village, Lomaiviti,” she said.

“I was interested and told myself three years ago that I could also complete my studies under the Matua programme.”

She said they moved to Suva in Tamavua after the first wave of COVID-19, as her husband was seeking employment.

“My husband was able to get work as a mechanic to support us financially, my eldest is a flight attendant, while the rest are in school, except for the three-year-old,” she said.

“My husband is the sole breadwinner for the family, and we just want to provide a better life for our children.”

‘For my children’

Ms Korovulavula hopes to find work after completing the Matua programme to support her husband and children.

“I tried to convince myself that I can still do it because I have a good command in English, computer literate and passed my previous examinations with good marks,” she said.

“I faced financial challenges as I had to travel by bus and my husband paid for my bus fare, our rent and food as well so he sacrificed a lot for me to attend school.”

Her eldest son, a flight attendant, is helping me financially to sit for my examinations, she said.

Ms Korovulavula said her children have been the biggest motivation in her academic journey.

“Sometimes when my children ask for things to buy, my husband and I aren’t able to provide due to financial problems,” she said.

“That has been my motivation to work hard and get a good job to provide for them.”

She intends to take up human resources and finance courses at the university level.

“I’m so blessed and thankful that I have the opportunity to come and better myself through the Matua programme,” she said.

“I urge people who have dropped out of school not to have any doubts and pursue their dreams with the Matua programme, as they have excellent teachers dedicated to educating their students.”

Ms Korovulavula acknowledged her English teacher Mr Lingham for his unwavering support in her academic journey.

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