Thirteen Tongan students, including 11 police officers, were awarded vocational and technical qualifications from the Australia Pacific Training Coalition, on October 30 in Nuku'alofa.

Certificates were awarded in different programs that included carpentry, light vehicle mechanical technology, and leadership and management.

The ceremony also marked a milestone for APTC reaching 15,000 graduates.

Acting CEO for the Ministry of Education, Ponepate Taunisila in congratulating graduates, said the Tongan Government joined APTC and the Australian Government, in the hope that these internationally recognized qualifications would enable greater employment projects here or abroad.

He commended the 11 graduates from Tonga Police who completed leadership and management training. 

“The upskilling and training of these officers demonstrate the value that our Tonga Police place in their employees.”

Meanwhile, the only two graduates who were not Police officers received their qualifications in carpentry and vehicle mechanical technology.

Australian High Commissioner HE Mr Adrian Morrison, said attaining Australian qualifications was a significant achievement.

He told graduates they were now ready to put their international recognized qualifications into practice as part of the Tongan workforce.

“APTC is Australia’s flagship investment in technical and vocational education training in the Pacific running for 12-years now.

“Today we also mark a very special milestone, in APTC reaching 15,000 graduates who have successfully completed their training from the Pacific,” he said.

The graduation was held at the Tanoa Dateline Hotel.