70 graduate with various trades skills

ANOTHER 70 skilled graduates from the Australia Pacific Technical College graduated last Friday with internationally recognised trade and service qualifications.
The graduates were from the fields of tourism, automotive, wall and floor tiling, children’s services, hairdressing, commercial cookery and metal fabrication.
Australian High Commissioner Ian Kemish commended the graduates for their achievements, saying they would provide the country with the skills needed by today’s employers.
Kemish said the demand for training in trades and services had increased over the years and the APTC was mentoring Port Moresby Technical College so it could meet those demands.
Johnsy Aikos, an automotive mechanic with Boroko Motors, who graduated with a certificate III in Automotive Mechanical Technology, said new makes and models of cars were introduced every year and with the knowledge, he was confident of performing better.
APTC opened in 2007 and has trained more than 890 locals, 542 of who were provided scholarships.
It has 348 local students undertaking training at four colleges across the Pacific.
The Australian government is committed to supporting education and training in PNG including:
l    The commencement of a second-year phase of the APTC which will expand the college in PNG; 
l    Funding support of K920,000 for classroom facilities; and
l    The training of tertiary and vocational education and technical college principals and registrars across PNG in educational financial management at the University of Queensland.