44 graduate at Montfort's 24th convo
Published on: Monday, June 02, 2025
Published on: Mon, Jun 02, 2025
By: Lorena Binisol Text Size: 20-year-old Luke Loning Tokuyuk Neemoh from Kg Kivat, Penampang, was awarded the Best Trainee Award. KINARUT: Forty four trainees mostly from rural Sabah graduated in various skills at Montfort Youth Training Centre's (MYTC) 24th convocation recently. They underwent over two years of rigorous technical training. Among them were 14 trainees from the Motor Mechanics department who completed their SKM examination; 10 from the Welding Technologies programme, nine excelled in the prestigious 6G SMAW Competency Test conducted by CIDB Technology; while 11 from the Facilities Maintenance & Carpentry programme who passed their SKM examinations and nine from the Oil Palm Plantation Conductorship programme. It was officiated by Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok, Chairman of the MYTC Board of Governors who commended the dedication of instructors, staff, and benefactors, emphasising the centre's commitment in transforming lives. 'This year's theme, 'Let the light shine before others,' is a call for each graduate to live with purpose and integrity. 'Your talents, kindness, resilience, and drive to make a difference are the light you carry. Never underestimate the impact you can have simply by being the best version of yourself, in the workplace, at home, or within your community,' said Dompok. Besides technical skills, MYTC instills essential values such as discipline, responsibility, and respect, equipping graduates with a strong foundation to navigate life's challenges. Dompok reminded the graduates that while skills may open doors, character ensures they remain open. The event also recognized academic excellence from MYTC-affiliated hostels, St. Mary's Youth Hostel (SMYH) in Sandakan and San Damiano Boys' Hostel (SDBH) in Kiulu, where trainees excelled in the recent SPM government examination. Outstanding achievers Braynn Rushell Justin (SDBH, Kiulu) and Mark Claveria (SMYH, Sandakan) were honoured for their academic success. Since its establishment in 1999, MYTC had provided over 1,000 youths with technical training and personal development, preparing them for meaningful careers. In July 2025, MYTC anticipates welcoming 80 would embark on their transformative journey. 20-year-old Luke Loning Tokuyuk Neemoh from Kg Kivat, Penampang, was awarded the Best Trainee Award. As the eldest of three siblings, his journey was one of personal transformation, overcoming challenges of indiscipline, addiction, and uncertainty about his future. Luke's initial perception of Montfort was one of resistance, strict rules, waking up at 5:30am, morning exercises, and a disciplined lifestyle felt overwhelming. However, perseverance and guidance from his mentors allowed him to adapt, leading him to excel in motor mechanics, self-discipline, and spirituality. His gradual improvement in English proficiency enabled him to communicate confidently, reflecting the importance of language immersion. He admitted his attitude and character changed and became more disciplined, confident, and able to speak English comfortably to his teachers and officers. Luke not only passed his Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) examination with distinction but was also selected to undertake the Malaysian University English Test (MUET), proofing his commitment to academic and personal growth. His speech during the ceremony deeply moved and touched everyone, as he reflected on his transformation after two years at the centre. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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Daily Express
03-06-2025
- Daily Express
44 graduate at Montfort's 24th convo
Published on: Monday, June 02, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 02, 2025 By: Lorena Binisol Text Size: 20-year-old Luke Loning Tokuyuk Neemoh from Kg Kivat, Penampang, was awarded the Best Trainee Award. KINARUT: Forty four trainees mostly from rural Sabah graduated in various skills at Montfort Youth Training Centre's (MYTC) 24th convocation recently. They underwent over two years of rigorous technical training. Among them were 14 trainees from the Motor Mechanics department who completed their SKM examination; 10 from the Welding Technologies programme, nine excelled in the prestigious 6G SMAW Competency Test conducted by CIDB Technology; while 11 from the Facilities Maintenance & Carpentry programme who passed their SKM examinations and nine from the Oil Palm Plantation Conductorship programme. It was officiated by Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok, Chairman of the MYTC Board of Governors who commended the dedication of instructors, staff, and benefactors, emphasising the centre's commitment in transforming lives. 'This year's theme, 'Let the light shine before others,' is a call for each graduate to live with purpose and integrity. 'Your talents, kindness, resilience, and drive to make a difference are the light you carry. Never underestimate the impact you can have simply by being the best version of yourself, in the workplace, at home, or within your community,' said Dompok. Besides technical skills, MYTC instills essential values such as discipline, responsibility, and respect, equipping graduates with a strong foundation to navigate life's challenges. Dompok reminded the graduates that while skills may open doors, character ensures they remain open. The event also recognized academic excellence from MYTC-affiliated hostels, St. Mary's Youth Hostel (SMYH) in Sandakan and San Damiano Boys' Hostel (SDBH) in Kiulu, where trainees excelled in the recent SPM government examination. Outstanding achievers Braynn Rushell Justin (SDBH, Kiulu) and Mark Claveria (SMYH, Sandakan) were honoured for their academic success. Since its establishment in 1999, MYTC had provided over 1,000 youths with technical training and personal development, preparing them for meaningful careers. In July 2025, MYTC anticipates welcoming 80 would embark on their transformative journey. 20-year-old Luke Loning Tokuyuk Neemoh from Kg Kivat, Penampang, was awarded the Best Trainee Award. As the eldest of three siblings, his journey was one of personal transformation, overcoming challenges of indiscipline, addiction, and uncertainty about his future. Luke's initial perception of Montfort was one of resistance, strict rules, waking up at 5:30am, morning exercises, and a disciplined lifestyle felt overwhelming. However, perseverance and guidance from his mentors allowed him to adapt, leading him to excel in motor mechanics, self-discipline, and spirituality. His gradual improvement in English proficiency enabled him to communicate confidently, reflecting the importance of language immersion. He admitted his attitude and character changed and became more disciplined, confident, and able to speak English comfortably to his teachers and officers. Luke not only passed his Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) examination with distinction but was also selected to undertake the Malaysian University English Test (MUET), proofing his commitment to academic and personal growth. His speech during the ceremony deeply moved and touched everyone, as he reflected on his transformation after two years at the centre. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
24-05-2025
- Borneo Post
From classroom to career for 44 Montfort graduates
The graduates, MYTC staff and board of governors. KOTA KINABALU (May 24): Montfort Youth Training Centre (MYTC) held its 24th graduation ceremony for 44 trainees at its residential campus in Kinarut on Saturday. The ceremony was officiated by MYTC boars of governors chairman Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok, witnessed by proud parents, staff, teachers and instructors. Also in attendance were the Brothers of St Gabriel, members of the board of governors, heads of relevant government departments, members of the Malaysian Estate Owners' Association (MEOA), benefactors and friends of Montfort. The graduating cohort comprised 14 trainees from the Motor Mechanics Department who passed their Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) examination; ten trainees from the Welding Technologies programme, of whom nine excelled in the 6G SMAW Competency Test conducted by CIDB Technology; 11 trainees from the Facilities Maintenance & Carpentry programme, all of whom also passed their SKM examination; and nine trainees from the Oil Palm Plantation Conductorship programme. In addition to receiving certificates in their respective technical training programmes, the graduates also received a Montfort Certificate for completing a two-year programme in character formation. Notably, some of these graduates had not completed formal secondary education, with a few having only received primary schooling before enrolling in Montfort's programme. Bernard (left) presenting the Best Trainee Award to Luke, while MYTC director Frederick Mah Hon Phing looks on. The Best Trainee Award was awarded to Luke Loning Tokuyuk Neemoh, a 20-year-old from Kampung Tuavon, Penampang. Luke, the eldest of three siblings, showcased outstanding skills and commitment, successfully passing with distinction his Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) exam. In addition, he was among the trainees selected to undertake the Malaysian University English Test (MUET). The Academic Achievement Award recognizes Montfort Hostel boarders at San Damiano Boys' Hostel (SDBH), Kiulu, and St Mary Youth Hostel (SMYH), Sandakan, who have demonstrated exceptional or commendable results in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams. Initiated by Bernard, the award aims to inspire boarders to strive for academic excellence and pursue higher educational achievement. This year, the Academic Achievement Award was presented to Braynn Rushell Justin from San Damiano Boys' Hostel (SDBH), Kiulu, and Mark Claveria from St Mary Youth Hostel (SMYH), Sandakan. Despite the uncertainty in the current economic situation, the majority of the graduates had managed to secure employment with members of the Malaysian Estate Owners' Association who established companies based in Sabah, Kuala Lumpur and Labuan under Montfort's Job Placement Scheme. Meanwhile, some graduates have chosen to seek employment independently, while others planned to pursue further studies at various institutions. In July 2025, MYTC is anticipated to welcome 80 new trainees who will embark on their two-year programme at Montfort. On another note, MYTC is excited to host its 16th Montfort House Bazaar on 10th August 2025, followed by the Charity Golf Tournament on 11th October 2025. Both events aim to raise funds for the upkeep and sustenance of its Residential Care Programme and technical skills training. MYTC looks forward to the ongoing and steadfast support of the general public in sustaining its Montfortian Educative Mission in Sabah.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- The Sun
Celebrating refugee educators this Teacher's Day
AS Malaysia celebrates Teacher's Day, it is worth recognising a group of educators who are often left out of the national conversation: teachers of refugees. Despite playing a central role in the education of displaced children, their contributions and challenges seldom receive the acknowledgement they deserve. It is time we changed that. These teachers work in community learning centres across the country, often run by refugee communities themselves. They are not assistants or temporary volunteers - they are full-fledged educators who prepare lessons, manage classrooms, and equip students with tools for a more secure tomorrow. For many refugee children, they are the only teachers they have ever known. Since 2022, I have been leading the Night School Project, a Taylor's University-affiliated initiative that delivers sustained, research-informed teacher education for educators of refugees working in alternative learning centres. Designed to bridge the gap between policy and practice, the programme equips teachers with inclusive pedagogical strategies, trauma-informed approaches, and professional development grounded in educational justice. I have had the privilege of learning alongside them. I have seen how they draw on lived experience, multilingual fluency, cultural empathy, and sheer inventiveness to adapt curriculum and lead classrooms in the face of enormous challenges. They are teachers not because a system bestowed the title, but because they have claimed it by showing up, preparing lessons, mentoring students, and shaping futures every day. Many carry unspoken burdens of trauma, uncertainty, and the daily precarity of refugee life. But they do not let those burdens define their teaching. In fact, they often transform their experiences into strength. One teacher once told me, ' When everything else in their lives is uncertain, I want the classroom to be the one place that feels safe.' That, too, is pedagogy. And yet, the conditions they work under are starkly unequal. Educators of refugees are not paid equally to teachers in public schools. Many receive modest stipends, and some none at all. With limited funding for learning centres, teachers often use their own money to buy markers, exercise books, or internet data for online lessons. The scarcity of resources does not deter them - it motivates them to be even more inventive. But such commitment should not come at personal cost. Despite all this, their contributions often remain on the margins in national discourse. Teachers of refugees typically do not have access to public teacher training programmes, professional networks, and education policy frameworks. While this gap may not be intentional, it reflects deeper structural barriers that deserve thoughtful attention and action. We need to urgently reimagine our understanding of who a teacher is. Teaching is not the exclusive domain of certified professionals within government recognised schools. Teaching is relational, contextual, and purposeful. By every meaningful measure, educators of refugees are teachers. They embody pedagogical leadership, emotional labour, and community stewardship, often in the absence of the formal recognition and support. To celebrate Teacher's Day meaningfully, we must extend visibility and value to those working at the margins. This means investing in educators of refugees not through charity, but through partnerships, training, and policy inclusion. It means acknowledging that they are not temporary solutions or emergency stopgaps - they are central to the learning ecosystem for displaced communities. Their classrooms may be humble. Their materials, limited. But their impact is profound. This Teacher's Day, let us honour all teachers, not just those within official systems, but also those who hold the line for children navigating the uncertainty of exile. Educators of refugees deserve not just applause, but recognition, respect, and support. Because they are teachers. And we see them. Hema Letchamanan is the project leader for The Night School (TNS) Project, a teacher training initiative for educators working with refugee children. Placed under Taylor's Impact Labs, the TNS Project is a six-month programme that has trained 62 Educators of Refugees across 18 alternative learning centres.
