3255 Follow-up to DBTI and Australia Pacific Tech Partnership
austraLasia #3255

 


Follow-up to DBTI and Australia Pacific Tech Partnership
Fr Ambrose Pereira sdb

HENDERSON: 5 August 2013 --  Australian Minister for International Development, Melissa Parke visited Don Bosco Technical Institute, Henderson, Solomon Islands on 24th July.   She was welcomed by Fr Ambrose Pereira sdb, Rector, Ms Camari Bainivalu, Principal and Mr Bede O’Brien, APTC Operations Manager for Solomon Islands, Salesians, staff and students.  The Minister was accompanied by Joshua Wilson, Minister’s Adviser; James Batley, AusAID’s Deputy Director General, former head of RAMSI and High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands and Sue Connell, head of AusAID in the Solomon Islands.

Under the recently signed APTC-DBTI partnership Minister Parke was happy to view new tools provided under the partnership and visit facilities and classrooms upgraded through the partnership.  The students have been highly motivated and encouraged as was seen by their enthusiasm in the workshops and the short cultural performance.  The Second Year students are preparing for competency at Level 2.  They look forward to greater opportunities and avenues for themselves in life.

It was wonderful to note that the Minister was interested in knowing more about the life of our Father and Founder St. John Bosco.

Meanwhile, 16 participants received their Certificate of Completion after attending the short course on ‘Interpreting Architectural Drawings’ for RTC Instructors on 2nd August, 2013.

Solomon Islands Build Environment Professionals Association (SIBEPA) coordinated the EU funded programme in partnership with Solomon Islands National University (SINU).  The four weeks programme, which commenced on the 8th July was much appreciated by all the participants who have committed themselves to share their skills with their students in the rural areas.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Glynn Galo appreciated the possibility of learning and transferring those skills.

Mr John Wate, Director TVET and EU representative expressed his thanks to the EU, SINU and all those responsible for ensuring that the course was well conducted.

“I have enjoyed the programme”, said Mike Puke.  “Besides the inputs and the presentations, we had discussions and field trips that have given us a greater insight into architectural drawings”.  The participants have learnt much from this course and we look forward to more training in future.