Grade 6 dropout Francis gets a degree, yearns for more

By ZACHERY PER
WHEN Francis Wangnapi dropped out of Grade Six in 1979, he did not want to give up on his education.
He repeated Grade Six the following year at another school, and slowly made his way up the grades. On March 15, he graduated with a Bachelor in Public Administration degree at the Divine Word University. He plans to pursue a Masters in Public Administration degree next.
Francis, 52, from Ambunti district in East Sepik, is the director of the natural resources division in Eastern Highlands. He is married to Belinda from Menave village in Henganofi district.
Their children are Quintyne Wangnapi who is a dental technician at Wewak Hospital, Delinea Wangnapi is self-employed, Afuzaso Wangnapi is a third-year student at the University of PNG doing a Bachelor of Surgeon and Medicine degree, and Ketmial Wangnapi who is in Grade 12 at Goroka Secondary School. The family lives in Goroka.
Francis dropped out of Grade Six at Ambunti Catholic Primary School in 1979. He repeated Grade Six the following year at Nagum Adventist Primary School in Kubalia, Yangoru-Sausia district in East Sepik.

“ Learning only stops when one stops breathing.”

He then attended Paglum Adventist High School in Western Highlands where he completed grades Seven to Nine. He completed grades 11 and 12 at Passam National High School.
In 1989, he graduated with a Diploma in Forestry Management at the PNG Forestry College in Bulolo, Morobe.
“I was then recruited by the Eastern Highlands provincial administration to work with the forestry division. I was sent to work at the Fayantina forestry plantation in Henganofi district. I served there for eight years before joining the provincial administration as a natural resources project officer based at the Henganofi station.”
He wanted to get a degree in business administration because of his new position. He realised too that public servants needed to have the skills and knowledge to effectively and efficiently implement government policies.
He comes under the Department of Personnel Management public sector work force development programme. He is one of the 12 officers from Eastern Highlands sponsored by the programme, which is part of the AusAID, to upgrade senior public servants’ qualifications. He also attended trainings and short courses related to his job.
Francis acted as a liaison officer job between the provincial government and the Bilimoia Mine developers in Kainantu district, before taking up his current post.

He is an active member of the Seventh Day Adventist church in Goroka.
“I am a church elder at the Sepik SDA church, treasurer of the Goroka district SDA church and coordinator for the Eastern Highlands-China sister relationship.”
He thanks public servants working with him, provincial administrator John Gimisive and Governor Peter Numu for their help.
“My next target is to get a Masters in Public Administration degree. I am a forester. And because I have joined the provincial administration, I must acquire the appropriate qualification and work ethics.”
Francis believes that learning only stops when one stops breathing and that it takes determination and perseverance to acquire new skills and knowledge.
The Grade Six dropout is already looking forward to the day when he get that PhD in Public Administration.