A celebration of success took place in Funafuti, Tuvalu, when18 APTC students recently graduated in the presence of the Tuvalu Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Dr Falesa Pitoi.

The graduates included TVET teachers from a range of education settings from throughout Tuvalu who had completed Certificate IV in Training and Assessment in 2010 in Funafuti, and early childhood educators who had studied Certificate III in Children's Services in Nadi, Fiji.

Drawing inspiration from the film Mission Impossible for his keynote address, Dr Pitoi extended a challenge to the graduates to make it their mission to take TVET in Tuvalu into the 21st century, and emphasised the importance of skills and training for Tuvalu and its future development.

Unable to attend the event in person, HE Australian Acting High Commissioner to Fiji and Tuvalu, Ms Judith Robinson, made use of the Internet to send a congratulatory message to the graduating students.

Graduates Mr Fousago Malo and Ms Sele Kausami spoke on behalf of their colleagues. Mr Malo urged his fellow Certificate IV TAA graduates to go forward, confident they had the skills and knowledge to make a contribution to Tuvalu, while Ms Kausami emphasised both the important role the Children's Services graduates will play in helping to improve standards in the Tuvalu early childhood sector, and their willingness to share their knowledge and skills with their compatriots.

APTC Country Manager, School of Tourism and Hospitality Fiji, Mr Anthony Bailey, took the opportunity to thank the gathered Tuvaluan dignitaries for their continued support of APTC and its programs. As well as Dr Pitoi, the distinguished guests included Ms Siemai Apinelu, Training Officer, Office of the Prime Minister; Mr Lapana Ene, Executive Officer, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports; Director of Education, Ms Katalina Taloka; Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports Mr Paulson Panapa, and Secretary Personnel and Training, Ms Misalaima Nelesone.