All-girl school, Notre Dame Secondary, held its 45th Grade 10 graduation and its 12th Grade 12 graduation last Friday.
Most of the speeches were inspirational, calling for more women to take up male dominated fields.
Despite the 2017 National Election, the girls proudly graduated with flying colours.
Notre Dame Girls Secondary school graduated 260 Grade 10’s and 12’s.
School Principal, John Kumie, was pleased to read out the National Written Expression marks his students had scored.
For Gr.12’s, more than 50 students scored marks above 14 out of 20 and likewise the Grade 10’s.
Kumie said the students have been shaped, moulded and groomed to take part meaningfully in all aspects of life.
Kumie urged Papua New Guineans not to discriminate against young women, but empower them to see PNG prosper.
The first female Secondary School Inspector in PNG, Betty Gari, encouraged the graduands to have high self-esteem to tackle discrimination at the workplace, and doubts to hold big positions.
Mrs Gari said she was determined and through sacrifice she became the first female School Inspector.
Notre Dame Secondary was started by the Sisters of Notre Dame from the Catholic Church, to educate girls and women.
The sisters chose Western Highlands Province as the centre of the Highlands Region, made up of culturally male dominated societies.
The school not only educates women, but teaches them the qualities of respect, courage, helpful, spiritual values and maturity.
At the graduation, Archbishop Douglas Young blessed the students, and reminded them to remember their creator through their life’s journey.
The Dux for this year in Science went to Lenisha Leo, who walked away with a brand new laptop.
The Dux for Social Science was Catherine Kerowa, who also received a laptop.
Kerowa also received the school awards for winning the IBS inter-school debate and Leadership award.
