EIGHT-year-old Tabu Tavo has given up his first week of the new school year to continue helping his mother sell fish to buy his stationery.
If all goes well, Tabu’s place behind a desk will be a reality come next week.
Tabu said he wanted to be a pilot when he grows up and was willing to work hard at school to achieve this.
At the Suva fish market yesterday, Tabu was beside his mother promoting their bundles of fish.
The Year 3 student of Lami Primary School said he wanted to help his mother at the fish market.
Mother Rota Waqaituinayau said the money they earned was enough for the family to survive on and send her three children to school, two of who were in primary school and her eldest son in secondary.
For this year, she said, they spent more money on stationery compared with last year.
“For Tabu’s exercise books, I had to use $60 and this does not include his school uniform, school bag, sandal and other stationery,” Ms Waqaituinayau said.
She added parents should constantly remind their children of the importance of working hard while in school because “life is hard”.
