Son, daughter follow dad Ausi into classroom – as teachers

By ZACHERY PER
HIS love for teaching has left 58-year-old Ausi Nari stuck in the classroom for nearly 40 years.
Now two of his children are following him into the classroom – as teachers too.
“Teaching is a noble profession. I love passing on knowledge and skills to educate our young ones according to the curriculum. We also provide counseling, disciplining, correcting students. I enjoy doing these.
“To see my two children Min (daughter) and Emmanuel (son) become teachers too has really made me proud.”
Ausi is from Mata village along the highlands highway in the Sinasina-Yongumugl district of Chimbu. He is the only son in a family of four born to Mitna Kauga and Ogan Kauga. The village is near Kundiawa town.
He was adopted at a young age by Nari Matai, also from Mata village, who worked as a Livestock Officer with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in East New Britain.
“My adopted father took me away from Mata village in 1973. We moved to his post at Kerevat, East New Britain.”
Ausi attended the Kerevat Primary School, then went on to do grades seven to 10 at the Malabaga High School in 1978.

“ This is my 37th year of teaching, I love it. It is amazing to see my own son and daughter teaching in secondary and primary schools respectively.”

“I was accepted to do a two-year Certificate in Tropical Agriculture course at the Highlands Agriculture College outside Mt Hagen in Western Highlands. I graduated at the end of 1980 with the certificate.”
In 1981, he attended the Goroka Teachers College (now University of Goroka), pursuing a diploma to teach agriculture in high schools.
He graduated and started teaching the subject at the Wasu High School in Morobe in 1983. He was posted to the Dreghafen High School in 1987.
Ausi came to Eastern Highlands and taught at the Okapa High School from 1988 to 1991.
“The road was terrible. Sometimes, we sleep on the road with our cargo and school supplies. But despite all the challenges, I love spending my life in the classroom.”
He returned to his home province in 1992, teaching at the Yaweh Moses High School. He was promoted to deputy head teacher there.
In 1996, he was posted to the Karaweri High School as head teacher. He took a one-year break from teaching in 1998. He returned to the classroom in 1999, and has been stuck there since.

“This is my 37th year of teaching, I love it. And it is amazing to see my own son and daughter teaching in secondary and primary schools respectively.”
Ausi had served as head teacher is a number of high and secondary schools in Chimbu including Doliba, Boromil and Ku High. He is today at Karamui High School where the biggest challenge is access to services.
“Attending a single meeting in Kundiawa costs K1,000 for airfares, accommodation and other costs.”
He hopes the Government subsidises freight charges to fly learning school materials to remote schools such as Karamui.
“I use school money for freight which is not right. The Government should step in and assist us.”
His third child, son Launa Nari, is looking after the family property at Mata village, while Emmanuel and daughter Min, like him, are teachers.
“When my son Emmanuel graduated at the University of Goroka, I took him to Boromil High School where I was teaching. I assisted him to get registered as a teacher. He is currently teaching at Kundiawa Lutheran Day Secondary School in Kundiawa town.”
Daughter Min is teaching at the Dumun Primary School.
Ausi knows he is getting on may call it a day soon.
“I am going down. I am satisfied that I have done my bit for education. My son and daughter can continue following my footsteps.”