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By CLIFFORD
FAIPARIK
PAPUA New Guinea now needs a technical workforce to meet the economical
needs of the modern society, Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane said
last Friday at the Port Moresby Technical College 60th anniversary
celebration.
“As PNG becomes more vibrant with investor confidence and development
steadily increase in pace, never was there a more important time to
recognise and stress the need for technical training and skill building
for the nation,” Sir Paulias said.
“The key to growth and our success is largely dependent upon what takes
place in an institution like this. The key to economical success is
through the development and developing the skills of our human
resources.
“If this nation is to sustain the economical growth that is just
beginning to emerge, then a key element must be a trained, skilled and
competent workforce that is able to undertake the major projects under
consideration,” he said.
Sir Paulias also said that the National Government had a new 10-year
2005-2015 plan within the Medium Term Development Strategy (MTDS) to
guide the nation through economic recovery.
“In this plan, technical education is clearly accorded its rightful
place in nation building by being rated as second priority.”
About 24,500 students have been released into the workforce since its
opening in 1947. Currently it has a total of 750 students in
pre-employment trade training (PETT) and extension students.
The college now offers training in electrical, building, mechanical and
metal trades for PETT and extension courses.
Grades 10 and 12 school leavers undertake a year in PETT courses while
apprentices employed in various companies do two months training in
extension courses before becoming tradesmen.
 
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