Scholarship recipients off to Japan

By JESSICA TANDA
THREE of the 11 Papua New Guineans sponsored by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) left the country on Saturday to study at Naruto University in Japan.
Mecky Wally, a lecturer at Dauli Teachers’ College in Tari; Valentina Jambahavi, from Madang Teachers College; and, Hanson Wambu, from Southern Highlands Teachers College, travelled to Manila and then to Japan where they will be for the two years and six months to study for their masters in education.
Mecky, 39, from Yangoru, East Sepik and Tari, and a widowed mother of four primary school-aged kids, was very emotional and overjoyed.
She told The National that she would study hard to gain the knowledge and repay her country and Jica for the opportunity she was given.
“This is my first time to travel out of the country and study abroad in one of the leading universities in Japan,” she said, adding that she had applied through a the Department of Higher Education Research and Science Technology programme.
“Jica has really helped me to develop my teaching career.” Mecky has been a mathematics and science lecturer at the teacher’s college for the past 13 years.
Meanwhile, another scholarship recipient, Shirley Drew, who is already in Japan studying economics and public policy, said the University of Tsukuba was a beautiful place and a top-notch learning environment.
Drew, 33, from Parua in Chimbu’s Sinasina-Yongomugl, was employed by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock before she left for Japan.
“I am thankful for all the support I have received from my serving organisation throughout the process,” she said.
“I applaud the Japanese government who have, through Jica, offered technical assistance to Papua New Guinea over the years.
“It has done a great job in up-scaling the human talent base of public service in PNG.”
Acting chief representative of Jica, Takahiro Yokota confirmed earlier this month that the 11 officials would be leaving in September.
“More than 4, 500 students and officials from the third world countries, including PNG, have been sponsored by Jica to broaden their studies in Japan.”
Yokota confirmed that seven government officials, three lecturers of primary school colleges and one academic had been selected to pursue their post graduate studies at seven Japanese universities.