Mathew satisfied after 30yrs of teaching

The National People

By FOLKEN WAKO
A LONG-serving public servant who worked in education for more than 30 years has retired at the age of 61.
Mathew Maito, a teacher, said he would return to his village at the end of this month happy and satisfied that he had achieved his dreams.

“ It was my dream to be a teacher when I was young because in my village not many were able to receive formal education.”

He was deputy principal of Port Moresby National High School (POMNHS) before finishing up and told The National that he had lived his dreams as a teacher.
“It was my dream to be a teacher when I was young because in my village not many were able to receive formal education,” Maito said.
“I wanted to become a teacher so that I could go back to my village and educate my people.
“That’s the main reason why I became a teacher and I am grateful that I have achieved that.”
Maito, from Moveave village, Gulf, started his education in 1966 at the age of eight at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Gulf.
After five years, Maito moved on to De La Salle High School at Maitohana for forms 1 and 2. Forms 3 and 4 was done in Port Moresby Technical College at Idubada.
Maito was able to secure a job with the Government Printing Office at Newtown, Konedobu in 1977 as an apprentice and then as a lithographic printing machinist.
After his father, the late Louis Maito Paisoi, passed away in Sept 1981, he resigned from his job to take care of his two mothers and siblings.

Retiring deputy principal Matthew Maito receiving his gift from the School’s governing council chairman, Pastor Charles Lapa at POMNHS during graduation recently.
Mathew Maito (front row: middle) with POMNHS students on an observation visit to the Japanese naval ship in September last year.

After three years at home, Maito saw his need to further his education. He was accepted to study matriculation and secondary schools training at the then Goroka Teachers’ College (now University of Goroka).
From then on, he started to build that desire and passion for teaching. In 1985, he graduated from Goroka Teachers’ College with diploma in teaching English and physical education in secondary schools.
Maito said he taught at his home provincial high schools for nine years before pursuing a degree in education and sports administration and language and literature teaching at the University of Goroka.
After his graduation in 1989, he went back to his province again to teach another four years.
“Almost half of my teaching career was spent in my province which was my goal and I am now retiring with satisfaction that I have done what the Lord wanted me to do,” Maito said.
He said he turned down other job offers because he loved teaching.
“I turned down many job with big organisations and companies just to teach because I love teaching,” he said.
In 2003 Maito left Malalaua High School in Gulf for Sogeri National High School. He taught there for six years and got a promotional transfer to POMNHS as the deputy principal.
Maito, who turned 61 in Aug last year, announced his retirement during the POMNHS graduation ceremony last month.
“I am satisfied that I’ve done my part to impart knowledge into those students that I’ve taught during my teaching career,” he said.
He said the greatest satisfaction was to find out that the students he taught were successful in their respective careers.
As everything goes back to the root, Maito would be leaving for his village when formalities of his retirement were sorted out.
Maito will be officially retired at the end of this month.