Uvovo’s persuit of learning continues

By Martha Deruage
A school leaver has penned his experience in a book aimed at inspiring and giving hope to school leavers to pursue learning.
Rodney Uvovo, 44, from Eastern Highlands said he had proven that the education system was wrong and had failed when he had won three scholarships to study abroad.
Uvovo said winning a scholarship for the third time had inspired him to write a book and dedicate it to all school leavers in the hope of motivating and inspiring them with a success story from close to failure.
It was his story.
“My personal experience narrated in this book aimed to inform, encourage and instill confidence to school leavers to develop the determination and courage to pursue education through informal education pathways,” he said.
Uvovo’s story started when he left school in the ‘70s after completing grade 6.
“After leaving primary school, I went home and lived an ordinary village life,” he said.
During that time, Uvovo said he developed a passion for reading and he went to the Goroka Public Library to read
“Eventually, I enrolled with the College of Distance Education in Goroka and I continued my seven years’ education. While doing my correspondence studies, I attended short courses conducted by different non-governmental organisations and government agencies.
“By that time I had become influential in the community in Goroka, I was picked to attend the International Youth Forum in Japan in 1995.”
Uvovo said he saw an opportunity in 2001 when the Australian Development Scholarship programme came out.
In 2003, Uvovo graduated with a Diploma in Community Services.
In 2008, I received another scholarship from New Zealand.
“I graduated with an award and a Bachelor in Social Practice in Community Development.”
“Ten years later, I successfully obtained another prestigious award from NZAid and I am studying for my Masters in Applied Practice at Auckland University of Technology.”
“Through persistence and desire to learn, I have proven Papua New Guinea’s education failing system wrong.”