Mum, 47, completes Grade 12

BY BRADLEY MARIORI
Age doesn’t stop education or stop you from learning new things when you are still alive.
These were the words from 47-year-old Lae Community College Grade 12 student, Francesca Wiakua, who graduated on Nov 29.
Franscesa enrolled at the Lae Community College last year with a number of other students, mostly those who were as young as her own children but despite everything, she managed to complete Grade 12 this year.
From Tuonumbu village in Kubalia, East Sepik, Francesca completed Grade eight in 1985 at Brandi Secondary School in Wewak and never continued on from there.
She later married John Huria from the neighboring Munji village and they settled in Kamkumung, Lae.
John and Francesca have four children who are working and in tertiary institutions.
From there on, she was a house wife until a phonics school changed her view of life and she decided to go for further studies.
She joined the phonics school in 2015 and upon seeing that she was good in class, she was recommended to teach in an elementary school in Kamkumung.
While teaching, she faced many challenges both from her work mates and others.
Because she did not have a teaching certificate, she was told to upgrade her marks and continue her education. She was fully supported by her children and funded by her husband.
“I left school for a long time and when I came in things were hard but through God, everything went easy and flowed smoothly.
“I thank my husband and children who were very supportive of me through these times,” she said.
She said going to school at her age was really a huge challenge but she managed to overcome it.
“I challenge others to not think life has come to an end if you are growing old. If you dream of something, go for it.
“Education only stops when you stop breathing.”
Francesca and John’s first born, Georgina is a primary school teacher, the second, Joan completed her first year studies in nursing at the Pacific Adventist University this year, the third born is Jane who is a first year accounting student at Institute of Business Studies and their only son Joel has completed Grade 11 at Sogeri National High School this year.
Franscesca’s supportive husband said when his wife went and taught at the elementary school, the teacher in charge said she hadno qualification which was a huge challenge not only to Francesca but to the whole family.
“I told her this was not the end of her education and she could always go back to school and I would pay her fees.
“If others can do it, you can do it too; the sky is the limit,” John encouraged his wife.
John said his wife had struggled and eventually did it and he and his children were very proud of her achievement.

• The writer is a freelance journalist.