At 37, Neomai Malupo is proof that it is never too late to chase a childhood dream.
A former pharmacy assistant and mother of four, she has successfully completed the Matua Programme at Nabua Secondary School, reclaiming an educational path she left behind nearly two decades ago.
Ms Malupo, originally from Lakeba in Lau, born and raised in Lautoka, attended Natabua High School but did not finish her studies in 2008.
She later worked as a pharmacy assistant at the Ministry of Health until last year, when she made the difficult decision to leave employment to fully focus on her studies.
“I stopped work because I couldn’t handle both,” she said.
“I’d work 8am to 4.30pm, attend classes at Matua from 5pm to 8pm, then go home to look after my children. I only had two or three hours to study.”
Her goal is to pursue an MBBS and become a doctor, a dream she has nurtured since childhood.
“I grew up around Lautoka Hospital. Both my parents were medical lab technicians. I used to watch the doctors and admired how they ‘save the day’. I always wanted to be one.”
Joining the Matua Programme in its sixth week presented immediate challenges for her, but she credited the teaching staff and their calibre for her success.
“The teachers were the main reason I attained the marks. Subjects I found hard in high school, like physics, became clearer.
“I actually scored highest in physics here.”
Reflecting on her achievement, Ms Malupo admitted to some regret.
“When I got my marks, I thought: why didn’t I do Matua sooner? It started in 2003. I wish I’d known about it earlier.”
She now urges others who have paused their education, whether to support family or due to other circumstances, to reconsider.
“There’s no age limit to completing your education. If you still have a dream from your youth, pursue it. Matua is a great place to start. The teachers give tremendous support and advice.”
Ms Malupo also offered encouragement specifically to iTaukei students and challenged the limiting mindset that usually persists when it comes to academic attainment.
“Many iTaukei students think they are not capable of achieving high marks. There’s sometimes a view that if you don’t succeed, you can always return to village life.
“But we can achieve just as much as anyone. It’s not about race, it’s about how much work you put in. That mindset needs to change.”
