A FEMALE recipient of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Apprenticeship Training Program has expressed her gratitude to the national government for its sponsorship of 102 apprentices undertaking trades courses under the program.
The state’s sponsorship of the program followed successful dialogues and negotiations between the government and SINU.
Mary Staeta, who has enrolled as a Plumbing and Allied Trades course apprentice, expressed her gratitude to the government and SINU for reopening the trades program and for sponsoring the 102 apprentices, including herself.
An official ceremony was held at the SINU Kukum Campus Lecture Theatre on Tuesday to mark the reopening of the apprentice training program through the support of the National Government under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labor and Immigration (MCILI).
The SINU apprentice program covers five trade courses – Plumbing and Allied Course, Building and Construction Course, Electrical Course, Light Motor Vehicle Mechanic Course and Heavy Plant Mechanic Course.
“I stand here with pride and joy on behalf of my Apprenticeship colleagues from the plumbing and Allied Trades, from the Building and Construction trades, from the Electrical trade, from the Light Motor vehicle Mechanic trade and the Heavy plant Mechanic trade who are present here with us this morning. We are filled with gratitude and I am so thankful as one of successful candidates to undergo these training under government sponsorship.
“Ladies and gentlemen, developing trade skills is important, that’s why we are here this morning and as a young and developing country, we [Solomon Islands] need more qualified personnel in these various trades to help us perform in these trades occupations with competency and perfection,” Ms Staeta said.
Ms Staeta said restricting occupations to certain genders should be a thing of the past and therefore has no place in this modern era.
“As a mother in the home, why should I wait for a plumber to fix the leaking sink or to wait for a carpenter to fix my unbalanced cooking table, while my children are crying for the quickest meal? These skills should be available universally at least in the basic level,” she added.
Ms Staeta said she was glad that with the help of the government and its stakeholders, “we are regrouping, reenergizing, reconnecting and working together for the common good of our beloved country.”
“I’m glad this Apprenticeship training is returning after a break and I look forward for its sustainability so that many more apprentices will be trained after this cohort,” she added.
“Talking about sustainability reminds me on the theme for our event today and that is ‘building partnership to enhance quality apprenticeship training’ and that the continuous working together and commitment to the roles and responsibilities that each one of us is pledging ourselves today would certainly result in quality workforce for our industries and the country that we call home,” Ms Staeta further added.
Turning to the MCILI Minister Harry Kuma, Ms Staeta said, “Honorable Minister of Commerce industries, Labor and Immigration and your staff and the Solomon Islands Government, thank you for availing these sponsorships for us to continue our training in our respective trades.
“Without this support many of us would not be sitting in this room today. We can only assure you of our commitment to our training and the professionalism we will bring whether here on campus or during our industrial practical. We will aspire to continue bearing in mind that nothing come easy in life.”
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
