Being a doctor, whether through years of medical school or through the pursuit of knowledge, is a deeply rooted legacy in Dr Reema Alpana’s family. Dr Alpana’s own journey began from the humble wetlands of Nausori in Fiji to now being an accomplished Doctorate Degree in Education holder from The University of the South Pacific (USP).
Her PhD research, titled “Examining the Readiness of the Ministry of Education in Implementing its Disability Inclusive Education Policy,” was a multiple-case study that explored policy implementation across five schools in the Suva District.
The study offers insights for stakeholders, including parents, on understanding inclusion at its core and how it can be strategically applied in all schools.
Dr Alpana’s accomplishment adds to a proud family tradition — her older brother, Dr Edward Narayan, also earned his PhD from USP; Dr Nitik Ram serves as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at CWM Hospital; and Dr Ricky Ram practices as a Dentist in Savusavu.
Education has always been a passion for Dr Alpana, and she often questioned how teaching and learning could be uplifted to transform lives. After enrolling for her PhD in 2017, she realised that very few people were pursuing research in inclusive education. This was an area she felt needed greater attention and advocacy.
She was able to secure support from USP’s Pacific Scholarship for Excellence in Research & Innovation (PSERI), meaning she had to resign from teaching to pursue full-time studies.
Like many successes, she also faced her fair share of challenges.
“When I got the scholarship in 2018, I was eight months pregnant, but that did not slow me down. I continued to meet with my supervisor, Professor Ann Armstrong, and worked on my research until the early stages of labour,” she said.
“After giving birth, my responsibilities grew heavier. Balancing postpartum recovery, motherhood, and my PhD work was one of the hardest challenges I faced. A week after my son was born, I returned to campus, determined to continue. Deep down, I knew I had an obligation to fulfil.”
“After a year and a half, my in-laws stepped in to help care for my son and cared for him in Rakiraki, while my husband and I stayed in Suva. This was one of the hardest phases of my life. Every Friday evening became my motivation, as it meant travelling to see my child.”
“To meet my goals, I often stayed awake for two or more days, analysing data or rewriting sections of my thesis. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, our visits to Rakiraki stopped, and we could only send food and supplies across the border.”
“This was emotionally devastating and slowed my progress. I faced numerous delays, not only from separation and heartbreak, but also from the anxiety of ensuring my child’s safety during the pandemic.”
In 2021, she completed her scholarship term and faced another dilemma, to return to teaching or continue her “nearly finished” PhD.
“Though I was jobless, my husband and I refused to give up. We will manage, he would always say, and we did,” she added.
“I joined a university in Fiji that year as a lecturer and remained committed to my research at USP. With only one supervisor, I depended greatly on her, and we developed a strong professional and personal bond.”
“Life tested me again when my child began schooling, and I stepped into the role of a parent of a school-aged child. Despite my years of research in inclusive education, I found myself advocating for inclusive practices to be meaningfully enacted in my own child’s school.”
These experiences taught Dr Alpana to be more resilient, disciplined, and determined.
“This experience also revealed the many gaps between the Special and Inclusive Education Policy and its implementation in schools, motivating me even further to complete my research,” she shared.
“Later, my family moved to New Zealand, and I had to rebuild my career from scratch while finalising the PhD that had already consumed more than half a decade of our lives.”
“I chose to finish my thesis as a full-time mum. I set small daily goals, sometimes writing from my car after dropping my son off at school. It felt surreal when I finally received examiner feedback.”
“USP staff played an influential role in shaping me, from the time I began my degree in 2009 through to my Master of Arts. I knew I would build a strong network with passionate researchers and remain connected to the world while remaining close to home and loved ones.”
From her personal journey, she hopes that educational support for women in academia will be more flexible and individualised, as every woman’s journey was unique.
“As a mother, I believe universities should show compassion and provide pathways for pregnant women and mothers to complete their studies with dignity and ease. Women’s health and well-being should never be overlooked at school, in the workplace, or at home.”
The 35-year-old, who now resides in New Zealand, has made significant achievements. Dr Alpana graduated from USP late last year and acknowledged her family as her main source of motivation.
“My father worked as a watchman at the Public Works Department until his retirement. To support our family, he also grazed cows and sold milk in our village while my mother stayed home and raised ducks and chickens to earn additional income,” she shared.
“My parents always placed great importance on education. They inspired me to break gender norms and prove that even as the youngest, and only sister to three brothers, I was no less capable of achieving the highest levels of success in life.”
“My husband also stood by me through the darkest moments; he is my calm through every storm. My son, Reyansh, continues to remind me that our battle for inclusion isn’t over. We must keep working toward building inclusive schools and communities, even after the PhD.”
“To those contemplating or still on this journey – pursuing a PhD means weathering many storms. These storms will come in different forms and try to pull you down, but remember, you alone have the power to fight through them and emerge stronger each time.”