By Rayon Lakingu – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Education is a big challenge for people living in the most remote parts of the country. Aitape-Lumi Trust Board representative, Linda Hambrua, said this during the Mapex Training Institute Graduation yesterday.
Aitape-Lumi Trust Board was the sponsor of five students who graduated on Friday April 5th at the Mapex Training Institute.
This year, the Aitape-Lumi Board of Trustees sponsored eight students from Lumi and Aitape, to study at the Mapex Training Institute. However, three students were not able to make it to the institution due to their remoteness. The five students who successfully graduated yesterday had to travel a long journey from Aitape to Wewak to board a plane to Port Moresby.
“The other three students were out of network coverage. They cannot be reach by phone to be made known that they are coming to the institution for enrollment. So they are left out this year.” Aitape-Lumi Board of Trustees Representative, Linda Hambrua said.
She said the students were grade 10 and 12 leavers from the most remote part of Aitape-Lumi, who cannot make it to a tertiary institution. But with the support from the Aitape-Lumi Board of trustees, the students can now find employment to sustain their lives. The five students graduated with certificates in Mobile Crane Operating and Semi–Trailer.
Linda Hambrua also urged Mapex Training Institute and other training institutes in the country to reach out to other rural areas in the country to provide educational opportunities and career pathways for unemployed youths.
“So I am putting this challenge to all institutions. Since Aitape-Lumi Board of Trustees has sponsored students with more than thirty thousand kina. I am kindly asking all institutions to go down to all districts and market their courses.” She said.
Hambrua also urged the graduating students to make use of the skills they learnt and be productive in their line of work.
