Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
18 hours ago
Tori Iosefo is in the final year of the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) at EIT.
Juggling an international rugby career and a Bachelor Teaching (Primary) degree, along with being a mother, is the focus of an EIT student.
Tori Iosefo, 29, has just returned from Dubai where she helped Samoa’s Women’s rugby team, Manusina, qualify for next year’s World Cup.
Of Samona and Cook Island heritage, Tori was born and bred in Flaxmere, finishing her schooling at Hastings Girls’ High School. She is now in the final year of the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) at EIT, but it has been a journey to get there.
“I’m in the final stretch now and I can’t wait to finish up this year and graduate next year.”
Having done some orchard, factory and retail work after leaving school, Tori soon found herself working as a teacher’s aide, while also raising her daughter Cataleya.
She says having her baby was the push she needed to become a teacher’s aide, but she soon realised that she should take a step up to balance out her life with rugby.
“I also got the push from my family and my colleagues as they saw the potential in me to become a teacher. It was then that I decided I wanted to be a teacher.”
As a tighthead prop in an international team since 2020, Tori says she is focused on balancing her studying with her rugby.
“Those are my tough missions at the moment, but they are the two things that I really want to hold on to. I’m excited about next year’s World Cup in England, so I just have to keep working on my fitness and hopefully get selected again.”
She says that it will be good to have a degree behind her by the time she goes to the World Cup.
Tori is loving the EIT programme, especially her placement with schools. Since beginning the degree, she has spent time at Mahora School, Ebbett Park Primary and Heretaunga Intermediate. She will finish things off at Flaxmere Primary School.
“I have loved studying. I had to have a big discussion with my husband Hajo if it would be okay for me to study. But it’s actually turned out pretty good. The programme is amazing. The lecturers and everyone, they all want us to do really well.”
She says that working as a teacher’s aide has certainly helped make her placements easier.
“For students that come in and haven’t really had the experience I had, it’s really good to have hands-on experience in a classroom.”
“I would definitely recommend this programme to others. The lecturers really do help, but the best way to get experience is being in the classroom. And the partner schools that we have are really helpful. I’ve already recommended this course to a lot of people that I know.”
Kirsty Jones, EIT’s Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) Programme Co-ordinator, says: “Tori is an excellent model for how to complete study alongside a busy personal life. She has shown resilience and determination and has always embraced challenges. The boutique nature of the BTP programme is its’ real strength, it enables school staff and EIT staff to get know the Candidate Teachers beyond course learning, on a deeper more personal level and to tailor the learning so it supports the teacher in training holistically. That approach has really suited Tori.”
“In just a few weeks the BTP team will acknowledge Tori’s and the rest of the third-year graduate’s efforts, and then another wonderful cohort of great teachers grown at EIT in the Bay will be ready to start their careers. Most have already secured jobs locally. Tori is looking to utilise her new teaching skills in her own community, making a difference and giving back in the area where she was schooled. The EIT and school partners couldn’t be prouder.”
