123 graduate with skills

By NAOMI WASE
A total of 123 students graduated from the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) in Port Moresby on Wednesday with certificates in various trades.
Speaking at the 15th graduation of the APTC, the education manager for Department of Foreign Affairs Johnny Lo-yep, said the economic competitiveness of a country depended on the skills of its workforce.
Lo-yep said APTC and other vocational and technical institutions were important.
“They are providing business and industry with the skills and they need to grow and develop to create more jobs for the people of PNG.”
He told the graduating students that they were graduating with skills that the private sector needed, unlike many university graduates.
“You deserve to be proud of what you have achieved and what you will do,” Lo-yep said.
APTC chief executive officer Denise O’Brien told the graduates: “With the skills you have, you will make a real difference economically, socially and culturally to your friends, to your family, community and country.”  She said at APTC, everything they did was underpinned by high quality and what they delivered were relevant skills and qualifications.
O’Brien said the demand of skills in PNG was very high and they were looking forward to support the technical vocational education training through the nearby Port Moresby Technical College.