International Day of Education
Florance Monape was a pioneer student of the Pacific Adventist University School of Business Studies complex when it was completed in 2018.
Hailing from a mixed parentage of Eastern Highlands and Enga provinces, Florance attended Lae secondary school and graduated with an exceptional GPA but due to limited tertiary spaces, she was not selected to pursue her interest in computer science.
Lack of placements, poor institutional infrastructure, and financial constraints often hinder individuals from pursuing their educational aspirations. However, having supportive parents was significant in Florance’s educational journey, providing her with resources for a second chance to progress her personal development.
Florance and her parents made the journey to Port Moresby to inquire at the Pacific Adventist University. Although she was not able to secure a spot in the science faculty, the school of business studies was still accepting students after receiving an Incentive Fund grant to build a new complex.
Florance registered three weeks after the commencement of classes in 2016, taking up accounting. By then the construction phase of the new business studies complex was just taking off and for two years, the students shared resources with students from other faculties.
In 2018, her study experience changed considerably when the complex was officially opened for staff and students to use. The complex now accommodates more than 400 students and staff annually.
“The new School of Business Studies added to my education experience. I did not realise it at the time but having modern facilities such as lecture rooms, computer labs, and having all the lecturers in one complex, was a bonus to my learning and career path development,” says Florance.
The new facilities meant there was sufficient space for students to study for exams or tests and clashes with lecture room schedules were no longer an issue.
By addressing the barriers to access and providing infrastructure support, we can ensure that education remains a transformative force for individual’s personal growth and empowerment.
The School of Business Studies complex Incentive Fund grant has contributed significantly to the development of future leaders of this nation and students like Florance who were given a second chance.
Since graduating from the Pacific Adventist University in 2020, Florance joined Ernst and Young as an auditor and is contributing to economic governance in Papua New Guinea. Florance’s experience highlights the transformative power of education. It opens doors to new opportunities and expands horizons. Florence was empowered to pursue her career and contribute to society.
The Incentive Fund prioritises funding for education projects that support technical education and employment outcomes, and improved access and retention for secondary students, including girls and students with disabilities.
