鈥淚 think it was meant to be for us to walk in the same ceremony. It means a lot to me and my family and I think it鈥檚 very unusual for a Samoan couple to be graduating with PhDs together. We want to set an example, especially for the young ones.鈥
Levi, whose PhD in Pacific Studies was focused on the dilemma of power relations in Samoa, had family members travel from Australia and Hawaii to share the occasion.
He says it wasn鈥檛 planned that he would graduate with Saili, but the timing had worked out. When Saili began her PhD in 2017, he decided it was an opportunity for him to do the same, after already completing a Master of Arts in languages. 鈥淚 thought maybe it鈥檚 time for me.鈥
Both have a teaching background, with Saili training at the Christchurch College of Education 16 years ago. They met while working at a school in Auckland.
Saili is now working as a researcher on the Better Start Literacy Approach, a programme that helps teach children to read and has been introduced in hundreds of primary schools around the country, led by 成人大片 Professor Gail Gillon.
Levi is a director of the Niupac Trust which specialises in bilingual education. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good to be useful鈥, he says. 鈥淲e also like to empower others, especially Pasifika youth.鈥
Saili Aukuso and Levi Simeona Tavita have graduated with PhDs from the 成人大片. They attended a graduation celebration event together at the Christchurch Arena today.
Saili Aukuso, 60, and Levi Simeona Tavita, 64, attended Te Whare W膩nanga o Waitaha | 成人大片 (UC) Graduation Celebration at the Christchurch Arena today.
They were among the 1500 students to attend four graduation events held over the past three days. The celebrations are the first to be held in person since April 2021 because of Covid-19.
Saili, who completed her PhD in Education studying Samoan children鈥檚 early literacy development, says it was 鈥渧ery special鈥 to graduate with partner Levi. The couple, who were both born in Samoa, have been together for 22 years.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 - Quality Education
