Prime Minister Hon. James Marape today encouraged students of Sonoma Adventist College in Kokopo District, East New Britain Province, to uphold the Christian values they have gained during their time there, and to practice self-sustenance in life rather than being heavily-dependent on a job’s salary, thus echoing one of Marape Government’s key agendas in aiming to ‘leave no child behind’.
Prime Minister Marape issued the challenge to the College students as they graduated in various strands of studies, preparing them for what is ahead in life.
“You, as an individual, should not actually be competing with others but rather challenging yourself to become better in life each time. You’re not in a race with someone, and you should never look at it that way. You should remain victorious over yourself. If you can have victory over yourself, then any challenge that comes your way in life will not defeat you.
“This (graduation from college) is not a full-stop in life; it is actually a comma that punctuates your life, in order to propel you forward into the future,” he said.
As the Prime Minister echoed words of life encouragement to bolster the students’ future in the right direction, he highlighted some of his Government’s policies in the field of education in the country that would alleviate burden on students’ parents, as well as the students themselves, especially in terms of paying for tuition fees, and sustaining livelihoods through business initiatives and career employment.
Those present at the occasion, accompanying the Prime Minister, included Members of Parliament from the East New Britain Province, Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Hon. Kinoka Feo, Vice-Minister for Justice and Attorney General Hon. Francis Alua, Secretary for National Planning and Monitoring Koney Samuel and Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd Managing Director Wapu Sonk.
PM Marape encouraged the responsible Government authorities to assist Sonoma Adventist College, particularly in terms of infrastructure and curriculum development, as he highlighted for the college to become a university in the near future. Sonoma Adventist College was recently affiliated with the Pacific Adventist University, marking a significant milestone.
Marape called on the Sonoma Adventist College board and administration to look into enabling compulsory studies for all students in the areas of business and commerce, just as Christian values – related subjects are taught as compulsory for the Church-run institution.
The College, located about 20 kilometres from Kokopo in a natural setting away from the busyness of town and city life offers awards in Theology, Education – Primary, Business Studies, Agriculture and Building.
In encouraging Christian values and principles to be sustained throughout people’s lives in the communities they live in, Marape also called for all institutions offering Theology studies to be supported significantly by Government to foster positive living and create a harmonious society for all.