Tvet students graduate with skills in retail management

 By GABRIEL FITO

FIFTY-Two students graduated with certificates in retail store management, business studies and computing from the SkulBilongStuakipa in Wewak, East Sepik, last week.

Considered one of the oldest business training centres in the province, some successful businessmen and women have graduated from the centre.

The 41st graduation ceremony was held at the Talio Lodge last Wednesday where former students told of their experiences and how they had become successful business people or went on to tertiary institutions to become accountants and managers.

Provincial Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) coordinator Anthony Narowen congratulated the students for taking up studies at the centre, saying there was a lucrative market for skilled people.

“Skills training is the way forward for East Sepik and PNG because people with technical skills bring about the development we anticipate and want,” Narowen said.

Regional TVET Inspector Frank Sapak said: “I challenge Grade 12 leavers not to overlook TVET training centres because you can graduate to be an accountant or an engineer if you cannot make it through to the university or college you want, through the formal system of education.

“Starting next year, students from this institution can apply to continue their studies at the Madang Technical College to complete their NC1 certificate.

“There are other options available like your manager Gillian Sapak, a former student of this institution, who has worked her way up to graduate with a bachelor’s degree at university.”

School manager Gillian Sapak challenged the students to make the certificates they received work for them and not let them collect dust at home.