Student with disabilities receives courage and determination award

By LULU MARK
Norman Sapel is overcome with emotion after graduation at Asia Pacific Institute of Applied Social Economic and Technical Studies (Apiasets) on Friday.
He is the recipient of the institute’s courage and determination award that recognises students with disabilities who persevere in education.
Sapel graduated from Apiasets’ school of business with a certificate in business studies.
“I did a six-month certificate course and I will come back next year and enroll in the diploma programme,” he said.
“The joy I have cannot be expressed with words but you can see how happy I am to receive the award from the school.”
Sapel wasn’t able to secure a spot in higher institutions after completing Grade 12 in 2011 at Don Bosco Secondary School in Vanimo.
“This recognition by the school means so much to me,” he says.
“I am blessed to be given a second chance by Apiasets after eight years.” Apiasets accepts non-school leavers into schools of business, education, health sciences and technical studies.
It offers courses at certificate and diploma levels.
The graduation was the fourth of the school.
Executive-director Thomas Phillar tells the graduates to return to their home provinces and serve the people there.
“The country is big and requires everyone to work collectively in its transformation,” he says.