Mother invests in daughter’s tuition fees

By Joyetter Luamanu 22 February 2018, 12:00AM

The expensive tuition fees have robbed a possibly better future for students whose families cannot afford to pay. 

That is the concern raised by Sose Filipo of Satapuala-uta. 

“So for me, I have had to explore other options to make money to pay for my children’s fees, most especially my daughter who attends the National University of Samoa.

“As expensive as it is, this is an investment that we as parents know is a must to pay,” she said. 

The Village Voice team met Sose driving her wheelbarrow full of bananas under the hot sun. 

Nothing stands in the way as she strives to earn a living for her children’s fees, she said. 

“We grew up in poverty and I do not want my children to go through what I am going through now. 

“No matter how poor we are, I make sure there is money set aside for my kids’ schooling. 

“This is their future on the line and if they attend school and get their much needed degrees, they will get good jobs and live happy lives. 

“And that is the motivation behind the work that I do, it is all to assure that I put my children to school. 

“Education is the key to success, yet other families cannot afford to put their children to school and of course they will end up like them, poor.

“And I don’t blame the families to be honest, the tuition are just very expensive.” 

Sose explained: “Poverty is a challenge, and for us low income families, lowering school fees should be considered. 

“We grew up poor and we did not complete our education and if we do not deviate from this lifestyle for our children, they will follow the same route and they will end up just like us, poor. 

“The Government should consider a program for low income families and pay for the student’s tuitions,” she suggested

“So again the Government should play a role in assuring that all students, most especially children from low income families, are afforded the opportunity to excel in their education, which will eventually lead to steady jobs and a good future.” 

For Sose, her daughter now attends N.U.S. and that was through her starting to sell banana chips two years ago. 

My husband works as a security guard and he brings home $200 fortnightly. 

“But that is never enough to help with what our families need and that is why we struggle daily, but nothing comes free in this life.” 

Sose sells her banana chips at a bus stop across from the Faleolo International Airport. 

Regarding the high cost of living, Sose believes that falls squarely on the Government. 

“For us, we cannot afford decent food, just Chinese food, luckily we have our farms to turn to for vegetables or otherwise we would have no options.”

Sose said their water supply does not work most days. 

“It only comes on during the evening and it’s turned off the whole day, I don’t know why that happens, but it is not fair for us. 

“Our money is just the same as people who have their water turned on all the time. 

“See for me, I have daughters, it is the most important thing for a mother to ensure that females in the family are freshened up all the time, and we need water for that. 

“So being deprived of water is a struggle and to be quite honest, it is unfair that others get their water all the time and for us, we are on some sort of water schedule,” concluded the frustrated Sose.

By Joyetter Luamanu 22 February 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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