Fatima TVET centre embraces change

By MICHELLE AMBA
FATIMA Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) Community College as it is known today came into being before Independence.
It is one of the many educational institutions set up by Catholic missionaries who came into the Highlands of Papua New Guinea bringing with them the Christian faith. Fatima in Jiwaka has educated hundreds of Papua New Guineans and is still serving this purpose today.
Fatima TVET is now into its transition phase moving away from just vocational training. This is in line with the National Government’s policy changes aimed at raising technical skills training in PNG to a nationally recognised and globally accepted standard.
Through this transition, the centre is now offering National Certificate 1 and 2. Theses programmes are taught using the competency-based training assessment (CB & A) method which provides pathways for learners to continue to National Certificate 3 and 4 at technical colleges and on to diploma and advance diploma at polytechnic institutions.
Fatima TVET is one of the six such institutions in Jiwaka, providing training in skills development and short courses.
The institution had recently embraced the community college concept, an alternative system of education which would complement successful vocational training as it is aimed at promoting job-oriented, work-related, skills based and life-coping education at the community level.
Fatima has offered and will be offering (starting in 2019) conventional specialised trade programmes in conventional building construction stage 1 and conventional automotive stage 1.
Community college programmes include electrical technology, computing and business basics and tourism and hospitality. These programmes will be eventually phased out and converted to the National Certificate programmes. National Certificates currently on offer are National Certificate 1 in Office Administration, Agriculture (Commodity Crops), Aquaculture (Inland Fish Farming), Automotive Light Engine, Building Construction and Electrical Technology. National Certificate 2 in Agriculture (Livestock Production).
Centre manger Tony Weldon said he has students from varied cultures. Students from other three regions also come to Fatima for skills training.
“We have students who come from as far as Madang to attend Fatima TVET Community College. This year we had a good number of students from Hela,” said Weldon.
He said now with the National Qualification Framework, the opportunity was open for prospective students.
“We are trying as much as possible to lift the standard and the trainings which we are providing must be up to standard. Fatima is excelling to meet industry requirements. Our entry requirement for NC programmes have now gone up to Grade 12 or Grade 10 with good passes.
“The school operates mainly on the Government’s tuition fee-free (TFF) funding and parental assistance fees. Our fees are K720 for boarders and K520 for day students. These fees are approved by the provincial education board (PEB),” Weldon said.
With the standards upgrade and also to meet student and teacher needs the institution opened several completed projects which coincided with its 49th graduation on Nov 16.
Completed projects included two teachers’ houses (duplex), water supply, computer lab and students’ Christian education fellowship house. The computer lab is fitted with 20 computers that will be used by students for practical lessons.
A partnership with the National Information and Communication Technology Authority (NIicta) will see Nicta giving internet access to Fatima TVET. This facility will also be used to generate income for the institution, using it as an internet café for public use.
Through this partnership, with the technical assistance from Nicta and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Fatima will run an agriculture survey called E-Agriculture.
“Fatima TVET will conduct a survey starting from Kimil all the way to Nondgul working with farmers, collecting data. The E-Agriculture project will have registered farmers who will work with our agriculture teachers. We do not have the specifics of the project as yet but will work in partnership with the international organisation to deliver the project,” Weldon said.
The water supply project was an initiative of the school, to provide clean drinking water to staff and students. Water is sourced from a well dug by students and has been certified as safe for consumption.
All these projects were blessed and opened by Catholic Archbishop of Mt Hagen, Douglas Young. The archbishop was the guest of honour at the graduation which saw 144 graduate in different trades including six primary school teachers who completed short courses in Computer Literacy.
Archbishop Young challenged the graduating students to use their skills to serve God.
“Use your skills to serve humanity. Love God with all your strength, act in a more conscious way and take your natural ability into the work place.”
He said those in villages were unconsciously unskilled but through some form of training they would become consciously skilled but when they become good at it, it becomes natural. So he challenged graduates to use their knowledge to serve their communities.
Senior professional assistant for community colleges, Lillian Kawage who came all the way from Port Moresby, congratulated Fatima for implementing the Governments’ policy changes.
She said the amalgamation of the community college concept with vocational centres was to address the Government’s agenda of equality, gender equity, access, retention and quality education for citizens who miss out on further education and training.
“A good example is conducted here at Fatima TVET Community College where this system is delivering fine training programmes for specialised trade courses and life-coping skills,” said Kawage.

• Michelle Amba is a freelance journalist.