52 years old Matthew Ronny Salung from Long Island, Rai Coast District in Madang Province has graduated with a Diploma in Public Administration at the Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance (SILAG) Northern Regional Training Centre (NRTC) in Madang. Mr. Salung who has been working as a Community Health Worker operating the sea Ambulance in Madng province for the last 30 years is looking forward in bringing vital government services back to his home, Long Island given his current qualification which he believes will enable him to do more for his community. He said he only completed grade 10 and it has been his dream to do further studies with SILAG and he is honored and thankful for Madang Provincial Health Authority for sponsoring him to complete Certificate in Middle Management (CMM) in 2019 and Diploma in Public Administration (DPA) last year 2022.
Mr. Salung’s education journey at SILAG NRTC was driven by his determination to serve his people back on Long Island. He said in 2007, all the teachers, health workers and other public servants on Long Island had moved away due to welfare issues they were faced with on the Island. Long Island has then been deprived from basic government services forcing Mr. Salung to step up and be the man of all trades. While maintaining his post as the sea ambulance officer, he used his own resources to attend to law-and-order issues on the island by brining police to the island and also, he was the First Aid person for anyone who was injured or sick. Mr. Salung’s extra work in the community was recognized when he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2019 while he was half way through completing Certificate in Middle Management at the SILAG NRTC campus. He graduated in 2020 in Certificate in Middle Management scoring “A” plus in all the units covered while receiving Academic Excellence award in Leadership. His program manager who witnessed his graduation was pleased with his results and offered to sponsor him in Diploma in Public Administration which he will attain today. Mr. Salung said he had to fully commit himself to his studies after realizing that he was the oldest among his course mates who were young and bright.
Mr. Salung’s plan after attaining his Diploma in Pubic Administration is to go back to Long Island and be a Community Development Officer so that he can be able to bring back some of the vital government services such Health and Policing back to the Island. He has also planned ahead to carry out awareness about SILAG and the programs SILAG offers back at the community. He hopes to get more young people especially the school leavers to enroll with SILAG by next year. He has challenged young people to take education seriously and grab education opportunities such SILAG’s Certificate and Diploma programs available to them at the SILAG NRTC.
Mr. Matthew Salung is among 32 participants graduating today in SILAG NRTC’s 5th graduation ceremony at the Madang Resort Hotel.