Govt backs project

The National Main Stories

PRIME Minister James Marape has declared the Government’s commitment to the US$66 million (K228 million) “Improved Technical and Vocational Education for Employment” project through the Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Department.
He made the announcement after meeting with Higher Education Minister Don Polye and acting department secretary Fr Jan Czuba in Port Moresby on Thursday.
The “Improved Technical Vocational Education and Training (Tvet) for Employment” project is designed to achieve several objectives:

  • Strengthen governance and management structures within Tvet colleges;
  • Facilitate high-quality Tvet teacher training programmes;
  • Develop demand-driven curriculum for Tvet programmes;
  • Establish gender-responsive Tvet infrastructure and enhance equipment; and,
  • Foster the development of national Tvet governance and industry linkages.

This initiative, co-funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is focused on 10 technical colleges.
The programme aims to fortify the
fundamentals of selected Tvet colleges, with a strategic focus on construction and agriculture, serving as entry points to
nurture and model Tvet Centres of Excellence.
These centres can later be replicated within clusters and corridors of secondary technical schools, as well as with other Tvet colleges.
The governments of Australia, China, Japan, and European Union have played pivotal roles in advancing this critical sector.
“The Improved Tvet for Employment project is set to receive co-financing from the ADB, the Government of Australia, and the Government of PNG,” Marape said.
“The ADB will provide a concessional loan of US$50 million (about K171 million), the Government of Australia will contribute a grant of US$10 million (about K34 million) and the PNG Government of will offer counterpart funding support of US$6 million (about K20 million).
“These collective resources will be instrumental in the comprehensive upgrade and modernisation of the 10 technical colleges.
“This transformative project encompasses 10 technical colleges, including the University of Goroka, focusing specifically on Tvet teacher training.
“The technical colleges involved are Port Moresby Technical College, Mt Hagen Technical College, Goroka Technical College, Madang Technical College, Lae Polytechnic Institute, Chimbu Don Bosco
Technical Institute, West New Britain Technical College, Bougainville Technical College, Kiunga Tvet Centre and Highlands Agriculture College.”