23 students graduate

TWENTY-three students graduated last Thursday from the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) in Port Moresby.
The graduation ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza hotel was attended by parents, relatives and invited dignitaries.
Education Minister James Marape told the graduating students that they were in the right stream of studies and the Government was behind the programme in giving basic life skills which would sustain lives of many Papua New Guineans.
“You are in the industry that will sell this country big time in terms of tourism and definitely one that will sustain this country for a very long time and boost the economy.”
He said that although student productions were good at the university level,  there were “limitations in the white collar job opportunities in PNG”, adding that the Government was embarking on a universal education in pursuit of life skills training which would be launched soon.
Mr Marape said the occasion was an indication of what technical and vocational education training (TVET) could do and it was vital that the Government looked at “life after Grade Eight” programmes like the APTC.
Australian High Commissioner to PNG Chris Moraitis, congratulated the graduating students who were now proud holders of an internationally recognised certificates in tourism and hospitality.
“You bring back skills and experiences which would not only serve you well in your career but would help advance the tourism and hospitality industry in PNG which, has a massive potential and endless opportunities for growth,” he said.