54-year-old father graduates alongside son in trades programme
Mr Peceli, the oldest graduate at the ceremony, completed a National Certificate in Plumbing and Sheetmetal (Level 3) alongside his son, Sakiusa Sakaraia Maivuinadi.
Friday 31 July 2026 | 07:00
Sakiusa Sakaraia Maivuinadi (left) with his father, Kositino Peceli, at the Civic Centre in Labasa on July 30, 2026.
Photo: Devisha Prakash
For 54-year-old Kositino Peceli, graduation was more than receiving a qualification – it was sharing one of life's proudest milestones with his son and proving that it is never too late to learn.
The father and son graduated together in plumbing and sheetmetal at Pacific Polytech's Labasa graduation ceremony yesterday, celebrating not only their qualifications but a journey of determination, family support and lifelong learning.
Mr Peceli, the oldest graduate at the ceremony, completed a National Certificate in Plumbing and Sheetmetal (Level 3) alongside his son, Sakiusa Sakaraia Maivuinadi.
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Originally from Nasinu in Savusavu, they were among graduates from the School of Trades and Technology.
Before enrolling at Pacific Polytech, Mr Peceli worked as a carpenter and block layer, a physically demanding job that involved heavy lifting.
"At the age of 54, I decided to change my career," he said.
He said studying at Pacific Polytech allowed him to gain new skills while building friendships with classmates much younger than himself.
"I was the oldest, but I made friends with young students. It was good to interact with them and learn new things," Mr Peceli said.
As part of the programme, he completed a three-month attachment as a handyman at Navatu Secondary School.
"I feel proud of myself graduating and setting an example to others that education has no age limit," he said.
For Mr Peceli, the achievement was made even more meaningful by graduating alongside his son.
Mr Maivuinadi said it was a moment he had always hoped to share with his father.
Already a holder of a National Certificate in Carpentry (Level 3) from Pacific Polytech, he said he planned to continue his studies.
"Graduating in the same course as my dad was something I always wanted, and I plan to continue my studies," he said.
He also completed a three-month attachment at Navatu Secondary School.
"My attachment was a great experience. Every day we learned something new and I made new friends," he said.
Their shared graduation was a reminder that learning can bring generations together and that it is never too early—or too late—to pursue new opportunities.
