Words and Pictures by Nathan Matbob

John Roka was a loving father who did not think twice about his own life when he traveled back to be with his family during the peak time of the ten year crisis in 1993.  John, from Bali in West New Britain Province, married Theresa Pokamari from Enamira in Panguna, Central Bougainville in 1977. And both with their children lived in the mining town of Arawa. Stories from people who knew John personally often articulate John of a person who never held back anything; he was a very generous man.  

Early in 1993, Mr. Roka had to leave behind his wife and young family of five. He had to travel to Bali to attend to the death of his two brothers. Mr. Roka took a great risk traveling out of Bougainville, but it was even riskier coming back into BRA held territories. Despite warnings from his in-laws not to go back into Central Bougainville, John Roka would not allow the situation to prevent him from going back to his wife and children. Ultimately, that decision cost him his life when upon his return, was ruthlessly murdered by opportunist BRA men.

He is survived by his wife and five children, all his children are now ambitious and influential individuals in their own community. The Roka family now lives in the Makosi village in Enamira. Out of their own initiative, the family founded a school this year for early childhood learning. They have named the school after their beloved late father.

The John Roka Memorial School was initiated by the Roka sisters Dolorose, Jessica and Theonila with their mother Theresa, after seeing that most of the children from the area were not making it through primary education, and dropping out and end up becoming liabilities in their community instead of being resourceful individuals. The sisters and their mother wanted others to see the path of education as a useful tool for development, as much as it has done to their family. The four ladies have also been receiving generous help in terms of advice from elder brother and son Justin, who is a teacher. The head teacher of the school is Dolorose.

The sisters saw that the main problem there was no firm foundation in children’s learning, especially those going into school for the first time, and that the OBE system is very discriminative to such children. This situation prompted the family to give children in their area a good start in learning by introducing them to basic reading and writing before they enter school. Therefore, the school was started this year with 58 students enrolled and is into its second trimester now.

Kinder 2 students hard at work

The students are divided into three classes, with the fresh ones from home in preppies, and those children that were regarded as too slow and sent back from school put into Kinder One and Kinder Two according to their age. Though in its initial stage, the impact of the school is very much profound as many parents were astound (some were even brought to tears) to hear their children speak English.

Morning assembly at John Roka Memorial School, head teacher Dolorose (colored top) flanked by Jessica (far end in black) (both facing students)

The school has just recently started a piggery project to help fundraise for a three in one classroom and office. The Roka sisters and mother hope to have the permanent classroom erected by the end of the year. Currently the school is running under semi-permanent structures built to accommodate classrooms only. The school is open for donation of school materials such as reading books, encyclopedias and other equipment to enrich the children’s learning. Plans are underway to have the school formally registered.