By Vasinatta Yama – EMTV News, Mt Hagen
Parents in Western Highlands Province were urged to support their children after Grade 12 if they do not secure a space in tertiary institutions.
This was the message from the 19th Grade 12 graduation ceremony of Mt. Hagen Secondary School recently.
The graduating theme was, ‘Living Life after Secondary Education and Self Employment’.
Hagen Secondary in Western Highlands Province has been one of the top performing schools in the country, producing some of the best students so far.
During its 19th graduation ceremony, School Principal, John Mamp, proudly announced that his Grade 12 students have again performed extremely well in their academic marks for this year.
Mamp said despite shortfalls in Tuition Free Fee funding, and teacher’s pay cuts this year, his teachers had made sure that their students did not miss a class.
This year, Mt. Hagen Secondary graduated 412, Grade Twelve students this year. About 25 of them walked away with academic and special awards, prizes ranging from laptops, cash, and hotel accommodation for two nights.
Guest of honor and Wamp Nga Group of Companies Managing Director, Wai Rapa, said that given the current financial situation in the country, the government must not politicize the education system.
Rapa said there must not be any political interference so that PNG children get the best education.
Western Highlands Education Advisor, Knox Kiap, who attended the graduation, also had the privilege of officially opening a double classroom.
It was built by the parents of Hagen Secondary students. Each had contributed K200 at the beginning of this year as a project fee, which saw the completion of the classroom.
