Teacher Susuve still at it after 48 years

People

By MICHELLE AUAMOROMORO
SUSUVE Sevesoa was 21 when he started his teaching career.
He will be turning 69 next month and he still has not put down the chalk yet.
Susuve is from Uritai village in Malalaua, Gulf.
He had five children with wife Pora. But they lost a boy and a girl, leaving them with three daughters. They have grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He taught many through his career, including Imbonggu MP Pila Niningi, the current Minister for Inter-government relations.
Susuve graduated from the Madang Teachers College in 1972 and taught at the Kaupena Primary School, Lake Kutubu Primary School, Tari Primary School and Lai Valley Munhiu Primary School.
After eight years as a primary school teacher, he became a lecturer at the Madang Teachers College for six months in 1981. He then spent six months at the Canberra College of Advanced Education in Australia.

“ Usually when you start a business, especially in education, you need to have money. I didn’t have money.”

In 1982, Susuve taught at various teachers colleges – six months at the Kabaleo Teachers College in East New Britain, eight years at the Balob Teachers College in Morobe, and four years at the Gaulim Teachers College in ENB.
In 1995, he came to Port Moresby and worked as a Business Studies trainer at the Maya Professional Studies for a year.
While there, he planned to start his own school. So in 1997, he set up the Hohola Community School. It was registered with the National Training Council in 2000.
He wanted to help the many young people wanting to get an education and finding jobs.
“As a former trainer, lecturer and teacher I wanted my skills and knowledge to be passed on rather than taking it to the grave.”
But establishing and running a school was not as easy as he thought. For starters, he lacked funding.
“In the 70s there were no schools like ITI or IBS. We had schools like Maya Professional Studies. Usually when you start a business, especially in education, you need to have money. I didn’t have money.”
The Hohola School offered courses in Business, Integral Human Development and Early Childhood Teacher Training. They run for 14 weeks. There are now three batches each year.
The fee for each course is K600, except for Early Childhood teacher training which is K300.
“The Hohola Community College is not a business. I am trying to serve especially young people so they can make a business out of it.”
He admits that there are schools which charge much higher fees and receive assistance from the government.
“I’ve been here since 1997 but I have nothing, really.”
Reverend Samson Lowa visited the school once. He was the principal at Gaulim Teachers College when Susuve was a lecturer there.
“He came here and said: Mr Sevesoa, what are you doing here? You have nothing. (But) it’s your passion, the passion you have for teaching and for the people. It is that passion that is moving you forward.”
Susuve may have nothing but a Sunday school hall belonging to the Hohola United Church which he uses as a classroom. The church provides him some desks and chairs too.
But he has something that is worth more than all that – a passion for teaching, a passion that is driving him to continue grasping onto the chalk even today.

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