Boy, 18, works to go to school

 By ABIGAIL APINA
WHILE other children of his age are in school, Michael Eki (pictured), 18, is assisting his parents to earn enough money to pay his school fees.
The family depends on farming to put food on the table and save enough money to send him back to school.
Michael can be seen walking into offices in Kokopo, to sell farm produce from the family garden.
He sells a bag containing taro, bananas and vegetables for only K20 – a good bargain for office workers.
He attended Vunabosco Secondary School in Kokopo, until last year when he was informed by the school he would not be able to continue his studies.
He said although it saddened him to withdraw, he had no choice because his family could not afford to pay a school fee of K900.
Eki said he had put his plans to becoming an airline pilot on hold until the family could send him back to school. He is working every day at the family farm to save enough money for his fees next year. His lives with his mother.
“My mother couldn’t assist me with school fees,” he said.
“I had to understand that. My elder brother has his own family to look after and I understand that too.”
Eki said his only brother was employed as a labourer at the Tokua plantation, earning up to K100 a fortnight. He has no choice but to look after his mother and save enough money for his school fees.
He will not give up his dream to become an pilot one day.