APTC records highest grauduates

The Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) in Vanuatu has recorded the highest number of graduands this year than any other centres in the pacific with its 193 graduates.

This figure added the number of ni-Vanuatu people with APTC qualifications to 1143, the Australian High Commissioner, Jeremy Bruer, proudly announced.

APTC 2014 graduation took place this week at the Lycee Louise Antoine de Bougainville School Hall in the presence of an estimated 400 guests, parents and friends.

One of the highlights noted was the contribution of the Prime Minister, Joe Natuman, to sponsor the fees of six locals from his home island, Tanna, who successfully completed certificate III in Carpentry.

Interestingly, more and more businesses are recognizing the services offered by APTC. Most of the graduates are employees sent by businesses and government departments.

Some staff from the office of the Australian High Commission and its Technical and Vocational Education Program (TVET) Program also received certificates on Wednesday.

There are other successful stories.

The ‘star in tourism’, Sam Andikar from the Millenium Tours Limited on Santo, graduated with a Diploma of Management after obtaining Certificate III in Tourism.

Jimmy Lume who graduated with Certificate IV in Community Development is also selected as one of the three finalists for the prestigious 2015 Zayed Future Energy Prize Global High Schools Oceania Category.

Lume was instrumental in establishing a climate change centre at the middle bush of Tanna. The centre opens daily offering education and training on sustainability and climate change to local communities.

He has also established sustainable energy systems to ensure much-needed clean water and sanitation there.

Apart from Lume, Charlie Rarua was the only male student to graduate with a Certificate III in Children’s Services, a program that has been traditionally a bastion of female students.

Mala Antfalo with a Certificate IV in Community Development, is currently working at Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) as the Coordinator of the United Nations Framework for Climate Change (UNFCC) project in preparation for the COP 20 Conference in Peru in December 2014.

All the graduates possess internationally recognized Australian qualifications shared by many pacific countries. These high skills are of high demand in vocational occupations.

Funded by the Australian Government, APTC offers a range of courses in areas such as hospitality, community services, tourism, engineering, electrician and other trades courses.