130 students graduate with technical skills

Education

THE Ogelbeng Technical Training Institute in Mt Hagen awarded 130 students with certificates in various technical fields during their graduation.
This was the institution’s 35th graduation ceremony.
Institute manager Peter Nori said that technical education was the key to the nation’s ability to move forward and Ogelbeng was among the many technical institutions in Papua New Guinea producing men and women with technical skills.
The institution offers courses in motor mechanics, business studies, carpentry, panel beating and spray painting, welding and metal fabrication, tourism and hospitality, electrical and agriculture.
“These are courses offered here and I believe that technical colleges help a lot in the nations building,” he said.
“You will need a carpenter to build houses and these are the people technical institutions are producing.”
He said more students would have graduated but many left because of the general election election this year.
Nori said the centre would be introducing plumbing, brick-laying and auto electrical courses next year.
“We will make this institution grow and help our people by equipping them with the technical knowledge,” he said.
“PNG needs technical people to help provide the labour needed in terms of infrastructure developments.”
Ogelbeng board member Anis Tiki called on the Government to continue funding technical education because technical skills were important for the country.
“It doesn’t look good when we see companies hiring expatriates to come and build buildings when we can produce our own builders,” he said.