Study boost for student teacher
Student teacher Suit-Keen Kovati is reaching new heights after receiving a prestigious study scholarship.
The Glenbrook resident was one of 30 Kupe Scholarship recipients. The scholarship, aimed at Maori and Pasifika high achievers, covers each student’s tuition fees and study allowances for their teaching courses. Winners were also given a taonga keepsake - a carved paddle for the Maori scholars and a carving in the form of a vaka or va’a for the Pasifika scholars.
‘‘I was very, very excited and pretty humbled to receive [the scholarship],’’ Kovati said. ‘‘It meant a lot to me too because it means I can start my teaching career and not worry about a big student loan.’’
Kovati originally fell into a career in retail, moving up the ranks to become a manager of several Glassons stores. While she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, she found that she enjoyed being able to mentor the other staff. The retail hours became too difficult after having children and she decided to re-train, taking up a distance learning programme at Waikato University with a Bachelor of Teaching.
Kovati said her parents had been a big support for her.
‘‘I think tertiary education in our family, in a Samoan family, is quite a big thing, they’re definitely really supportive of it.’’
Kovati’s study specialises in primary school-aged students.
‘‘I have enjoyed the juniors, I enjoy the really quick progress that you see in their learning,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s quite rewarding to see ... the kids just being so excited about learning something new.’’
She said she hadn’t yet decided where she wanted to teach after graduation, but she was keen to find a school that would enable her to bring her cultural experience and background into her teaching.
‘‘Wherever I go my aim is to really give children the chance to actually achieve a really good education.’’ she said. ‘‘[But] it’s definitely one thing - I think as someone who comes from a smaller minority group in New Zealand … just being sensitive of how other students may perceive their education or their experiences, I might just be able to offer something to help them with that.’’