Institution undergoes reformation

By NIDRA KEWERE MAPI
THE Morata Vocational Centre is undergoing a reformation and awareness programme to bring it back to reputable standing in the community.
It is the only vocational centre in the Morata suburb that provides basic short courses and training for school drop-outs and mostly unemployed youths.
The vocational centre has been closed for almost nine years due to burglaries, thefts and mismanagement of funds by its previous management.
Under the supervision of current manager Hilary Damke, the centre is slowly being restored and is seeing new changes.
Mr Damke was previously at Badili Vocational School and was recommended by the NCD Education Division to manage the Morata centre.
“When I first came, this place was so rundown that I had to start from nothing to get it back to where it is now,” Mr Damke said.
The centre offers long-term and short-term courses in sewing, cooking, carpentry, welding, building, machinery and business.
Mr Damke said there was no criterion for joining the vocational centre, as long as the interest to learn was there.
The short courses are funded by the Ginigoada Foundation and were started by Dame Carol Kidu to provide basic training in short courses for the informal sector.
Although the Ginigoada Foundation only covers the Moresby South electorate, Mr Damke has been able to implement its strategies at the Morata Vocational School.
There is also a programme that allows prisoners on parole to attend short courses and training. There are currently three at Morata Vocational Centre.
Superintendent for operations under the NCD Education Division Stephen Lapan said vocational training was the way forward to encourage youths to make the most of their lives.
He also said that the people in the community had to take ownership of the centre as it was for them to use to better themselves in the community.
Vocational Schools coordinator Tapai Komet will be doing a feasibility study of new classrooms, buildings, materials and the costs needed to help improve the vocational centre.