Fiji Sun

MARITIME ACADEMY

21 STUDENTS FROM PNG GRADUATE HERE

- WATI TALEBULA-NUKU SUVA Edited by Ranoba Baoa

Lisa-Thea Kashari said coming to Fiji and studying at the Fiji National University’s Maritime Academy was the best decision she ever made.

The 26-year-old is the only female among 21 students from Papua New Guinea who graduated from a Certificat­e of Competency (COC) Class 3.

“The course was for one year and I have learned a lot. Now it is time for me to go back home and apply what I have learned from the course I did,” Ms Kashari said.

“To be far from home was hard and COVID-19 made it harder. I am glad that it is finally done. “COVID-19 has been challengin­g especially mentally because we could not even visit home during the break.

“The only thing that is left for us is to do our oral test and then catch the next flight home.” While being away from family, given the COVID-19 pandemic, Edmond Bimbo, a marine engineerin­g student said he would come back and study in Fiji if given another opportunit­y. “Studying in Fiji has been a good exposure for me because our lectures were well delivered and were easy to understand,” Mr Bimbo said.

“I attended the PNG Maritime College as an engineer cadet before I was given the opportunit­y to study in Fiji.

“I currently work for Consort Shipping Limited and will join them again when I go back home. “Hopefully I will be able to come

again to study in the near future.” The students were jointly sponsored by Consort Shipping and Pacific Towing Limited.

Six of them are employed by Pacific Towing Marine Services and 15 are with Consort Shipping Limited in PNG.

Feedback: wati.talebula@fijisun.com. fj

 ?? Photo: Wati Talebula-Nuku ?? Lisa-Thea Kashari (front second from left) with fellow students from Papua New Guinea who graduated from a Certificat­e of Competency (COC) Class 3, on January 22, 2021.
Photo: Wati Talebula-Nuku Lisa-Thea Kashari (front second from left) with fellow students from Papua New Guinea who graduated from a Certificat­e of Competency (COC) Class 3, on January 22, 2021.

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