The Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) will hold its graduation ceremony in Samoa for students who have successfully completed programs at the school.

There ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at the Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano Samoa (EFKS) Hall, in Sogi next Tuesday, March 24 2015.

According to an invitation sent to the Samoa News, the keynote address will be delivered by the Honorable Prime Minister of Samoa, Afioga Fatialofa Tuilaepa Sailele Lupesoliai Malielegaoi.

A total of 108 Samoa students will be graduating from 12 qualifications in the following courses: Allied Health Assistance/Health Services, Carpentry, Children’s Services, Commercial Cookery, Disability, Fabrication, Hospitality Lodge, Nutrition, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Tourism, and Youth Work.

Certificate III in Nutrition graduates are the first in the Pacific in this program, which had the support of the Ministry of Health, National Health Service, ADRA, Special Olympics, and the Australian Government. All students in this program are Samoans.

“Sixteen graduates completed Certificate III in Disability that was delivered on a part time basis to special needs teachers for children with disabilities in primary schools throughout Samoa.

Thirteen graduates in Certificate III in Carpentry were previously graduates of the Certificate II in Construction from villages in the south west of Samoa that were devastated by Cyclone Evan. As part of their training, students helped build more than 200 fales in the villages for families from the additional funding made available by the Australian Government.”

The APTC reports that “Training for graduates in Certificate III in Hospitality (Lodge) was provided through the joint collaboration between APTC and the Samoa Tourism Authority (STA). STA and APTC had also delivered training to food vendors and stall-holders in Food Hygiene and Preparation as well as other short courses to targeted sectors of the tourism industry in preparation for the Small Island Development States (SIDS) Conference and the Teuila festival. A total of 399 Samoans received training from APTC as part of the Tourism Cyclone Recovery program funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme.”

The APTC is expecting over 100 invited guests to attend the graduation ceremony. The guest list includes the Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Her Excellency Ms. Sue Langford, New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, Her Excellency Ms. Jackie Frizelle, and the Vice Chancellor and President of the National University of Samoa, Professor Le'apai Tu'ua Ilaoa Asofou So'o.