Jackson breaks “tribal curse”, gets a degree

By MAX KILIWA
JACKSON Simbra, 27, has broken a “curse” his fellow villagers believe in regarding education, when he graduated with a degree in accounting.
“My people passed all kinds of judgment, saying God must have cursed our community as regards education. But they did not even send their children to school – because of the tribal fights.”
Jackson, 27, from Panimba Village in Lower Kagul, Tambul-Nebilyer district, Western Highlands, is the eldest in a family of five born to subsistence farmers Simbra Mark and Yalta Simbra.
He started his education journey at the Emmanuel Community School in 2003, and left because of the tribal fight between two neighboring tribes, Pereka and Kaika.
He followed his father to Goroka and completed Elementary Two there in 2005.
In 2006, he enrolled himself in Grade Three at the Piambil Primary School in Southern Highlands. He would wake as early as 5.30am, prepared his lunch and started on the two-hour bush track walk to school.
In 2007, his parents transferred him to the Tsinibai Primary School in Upper Nebilyer. He stayed with the family of his aunt there. But he felt homesick a lot and in 2008 returned home and attended the Kiripia Primary School from grades five to eight.
He again walked for two hours to school, and crossing the Kagul River using a tyre-tube as a floater when it was flooded.
They often referred to Jackson as an “academic prostitute” for changing schools often.
“I take the comments as an inspiration, giving me the strength to be resilient despite

“ My people passed all kinds of judgment, saying God must have cursed our community as regards education. But they did not even send their children to school because of tribal fights.”

the challenges I faced. I balanced my time between church and education.”
Jackson took part in church-organised activities and also focused on education, planning to graduate with a degree from a university one day.
In 2012, he was selected for Grade Nine at the Kiripia Primary School but attended the Gerehu Secondary School instead.
He was streamed to a business classes and finished grade 12 in 2015. He received an offer from the Port Moresby Business College in 2016.
In times of need, his fellow church members stepped in to support him through his studies. It gave him the strength and motivation to trust in God more.
In 2018, he was accepted to attend the University of Papua New Guinea to continue his two-year accounting degree programme through external studies.
He graduated in 2020.
Jackson was happy that he proved to his people that their belief in the education curse befalling their tribe was all false.
“I am the only person who tried to get a degree. Many more would have done the same but for the tribal fight and ongoing tension. It stopped our young people from accessing better education.
“My academic achievement made young people feel challenged. Some are now in colleges and universities after seeing my achievement and how I struggled to get into university.”
He is now working with a telecommunication company and has also been helping small business operators.
Jackson never forgets God and takes part in church activities.
His favorite Bible verse (Mathew 6: 33): “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”