Education vital, says US envoy

By PISAI GUMAR
EDUCATION is a vital component in any country seeking success, US ambassador Teddy Taylor says.
Speaking at the handover of a double classroom and a Southern Cross water tank installed by the US, Australian and local soldiers under the Pacific Partnership 2011 mission at Bubia Primary School at 10-Mile, Taylor said education “is the great equaliser because education plays an integral part in shaping human lives”.
He said used well education was a fundamental element that communities in any society relied heavily on to progress.
 “Education is a crucial merit base that allows equal opportunity despite race and gender to develop human intellectual and skills capacity to lead in disciplines and professions to serve their nation and society,” he said.
Education allows equal opportunity. It permits the creation create of a sustainable labour force. Education has the ability to make the impossible become possible,” he said.
Taylor said education was the responsibility of the government which had to ensure classrooms, books, pens, pencils and papers and teachers were available for the children to attend and learn what was required to move the country forward.
“Children are future leaders of the country and education is their life,” he said.
“Despite the humanitarian assistance provided to the Lae community, one important thing no one can see, touch and feel was the existing bond and friendship between the US government and the Lae community in Morobe province.
“That will last for many years to come,” Taylor said.
Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, deputy governor Morokoi Gaiwata, Evangelical Lutheran church Bishop Rev Giegere Wenge, provincial and Huon Gulf district administration staff and PPII mission servicemen and women witnessed the handover.
Wenge said the PPII humanitarian assistance “indicates the spirit of oneness, togetherness and partnership in terms of exchanging knowledge and skills”.
“As a developing nation, we still learn from what we do and the assistances from US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, British governments and UN means a lot to us,” he said.