Women excel as trade apprentices

 THREE women from SP Brewery and UMW Niugini received their Apprentice Extension 2 certificates in electrical mechanic from the PNG Power Training College last weekend.

Kerrie Gawi and Shannen Tokasiou from SP Brewery and Tonetty Isaac from UMW Niugini were the only women among 52 apprentices who  managed to attain their certificates.

Gawi and Tokasiou were the only women among more than 50 to do engineering at SP Brewery in Port Moresby and Lae. Isaac is the only female among 25 male electricians at UMW in Port Moresby.

Twenty six men graduated with Apprentice Extension 2 certificates and another 23 with certificates in Competency-Based Training Level 1.

They were sent by their organisations to the college for electrical mechanics for eight weeks.

Kerrie said the training boosted the confidence of the apprentices.

“We thank SP Brewery and UMW Niugini for supporting us and bringing us this far and we are confident that we will go back and give our best and help our seniors and other workmates to improve and meet our targets,” she said.

“We are also grateful tor PNG Power for the opportunity to extend our knowledge and we are willing to come back for more if our organisations approve PNG Power to train us for the next stage.” 

PNG Power Training College manager Camilus Liaia said the women were active in their training and performed well alongside the men.

The college is currently enrolling students for competency-based training in Levels 1, 2 and 3 and is also conducting apprenticeship extension block courses for Levels 1, 2, and 3.

The college is also is in the process of registering other trades such as diesel mechanics, power station technology, lines mechanic and machine fitting and machining and will continue to provide these in consultation with the National Apprentice Trade Testing Board.