Lingam foregoes pay to teach Matua students
Teachers at Nabua Secondary School had to forego getting paid when taking extra classes in another programme offered at the school last year. However, they performed their work with passion and were happy with the end results of students in the Matua Programme.
It was initiated for students, who missed out on completing their education for many years, but got to study Year 12 and Year 13 under this programme.
It was the only programme of its kind in the country.
Among the selfless teachers was Rajnesh Lingam, who would also take weekend classes for the benefit of the students.
A mutual understanding with his family made it possible for him to give second chances at life to students.
Mr Lingam is the acting assistant principal at the school and he teaches English.
“The quest to deliver education to students, who could not complete their secondary school education, drove me,” he said
“I was introduced to the Matua Programme in 2017 as the Head of Department Languages.
“At first it was strange, but as I got used to my classes and students. I felt a sense of pride and honour in teaching students who were almost my age.”
Mr Lingam would use his family time on the weekends to connect with his students.
He would get phone calls most of the time when students found it difficult to grasp the English subject.
These efforts resulted in the Matua
Programme achieving 100 per cent pass rate in English.
“Despite the wet weather, which prevailed on some Saturdays, students attended revision classes, attempted worksheets, and studied in groups to prepare for the final examination,” he said.
A student who impressed him was Ruth Ledua, who topped the programme in the Year 13 National Examination results, which was released last week. She scored 326 marks out of 400.
Ms Ledua is a wife and mother to five children.
She had just returned from Lau and did not know about her achievement until she reached Suva during the weekend. Mr Lingham visited her yesterday to congratulate her. She was also the dux of the programme last year.
“There were obstacles to encounter, but with sheer determination, patience and consistency, she surrounded herself with the right group of friends who supported and motivated each other,” Mr Lingam said.