Twenty-four apprentices graduate with immense ambitions

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 17 JANUARY 2022: Families and loved ones gathered National University of Samoa’s gymnasium last Friday morning to celebrate the success of twenty-four apprentices who graduated under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour’s Apprenticeship Program 2021.

The Minister of Public Enterprise and MCIL, Leatinuu Wayne Fong congratulated the graduates for their hard work and determination in achieving their goals.

“The main focus of the program for 2021 academic year is to complete the transition period from the old structure to the new Apprenticeship structure which required more commitments and sacrifices from the three key players, MCIL, NUS and SQA,” he said.

“The new Apprenticeship structure constitutes National Competency Standards for the seven trades under the program which are an essential requirement for both the theoretical and practical aspects of the apprenticeship program.”

One of the graduates, Tofuifaleupolu Letaula, 22 from Fasitoo-Uta said he this is the best and only achievement he has succeeded in his life and one that will surely change his life for the better.

“My academic journey from when I was young was like majority of the youths today, going from school to school without achieving a specific certificate like this and today, I couldn’t be any more proud to have achieved this with my mother on my side,” he said.

He has endured four years in completing each step in his apprenticeship journey and his goal now is to build a brighter future for his family using his skills and knowledge and his piece of paper from the graduation relevant to the apprenticeship program.

Apprenticeship graduates 2022 with Minister of MCIL, Leatinuu Wayne Fong and MCIL CEO, Pulotu ChuLing after graduation

The program is one of the many Government initiatives established in 2020 to develop the skills of Samoans and advance their efficiency in the areas of apprenticeship despite the impact of the global pandemic.

This program has seen a number of records achieved through the partnership of MCIL, NUS and SQA with the purpose of developing the apprenticeship program every year for young people to be encouraged to join.

Another goal of establishing this program is to keep up with the global employment market and for aspiring businessmen and businesswomen to show excellence in the work that they do when they want to set up their own businesses.