The Minister for Labour and Employment in Papua New Guinea, Kessy Sawang, has given a challenge to over 700 graduating students at the University of Goroka (UOG). She urged them to become productive contributors to the nation.
Sawang emphasized that their university experience is not just about gaining knowledge but also about developing critical thinking, nurturing creativity, and instilling values for their future. She reminded the graduates that they now bear the responsibility of contributing to nation-building and shaping the future of their country.
Highlighting the limited accessibility to education in PNG, Sawang stressed the importance of the quality of education. Many students in the country lack resources like computers, internet access, and even electricity for studying at night. She urged the graduates to see their education as a privilege with a greater responsibility to provide quality education for nation-building.
Sawang encouraged the graduates to have a purpose, be passionate about their work, and prioritize God in their jobs and lives. The Vice-chancellor of UOG, Dr Teng Waninga, announced that similar graduation ceremonies would take place in UOG campuses in other centers, including the Honiara campus in the Solomon Islands. This year, the university witnessed the highest number of students graduating.
Despite facing challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and an earthquake that damaged student dormitories, Waninga applauded the graduates for their resilience. UOG Chancellor Joe Wemin advised teachers, who are often employed by the Teaching Service Commission, to consider self-employment if they are unable to secure a job. He encouraged all graduates to be productive, agents of change, and good ambassadors for UOG.
Two students, Siove Akus Ellendora and Yambo Phantica, graduated under higher degrees in postgraduate studies. As UOG began its registration for the 2024 academic year, Wemin stated that continuing students would register the following week, and no registrations would be accepted after that. Classes are scheduled to begin in two weeks.
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