Govt tries to collect data on drop-outs

THE Government will try to collect data on school drop-outs in the country and find ways to help them further their education through the distance learning or technical colleges, Prime Minister James Marape says.
Marape said this in Jimi, Jiwaka, during a visit to see the district’s road network earlier this month.
He said those school leavers who were at home could enrol with the flexible open and distance education (Fode) or at a technical education and vocational training (Tvet) centre.
Marape said people needed to be trained or further their education post-secondary school in order to be employed and develop opportunities for themselves.
He gave K200,000 to Jimi Secondary School and another K200,000 to Kol health centre to maintain the facilities which were part of the Government support towards health and education.
He said it was not good seeing people termed as “drop-outs” and at home, adding that these people had to do something to keep their minds open and busy.
Marape said the Government was focusing on making sure all citizens had the opportunity to have meaningful lives.
He said his Government had not forgotten about school drop-outs and would support them.
“The Government is helping with the Fode centres and even Tvet so people can enrol to study,” he said.
Education Minister Jim Uguro, who accompanied Marape to Jimi, said the Government aimed to ensure that every Papua New Guinean had the opportunity to be educated.
Uguro said Fode was one way to open up education opportunities for many school leavers. He gave K100,000 to Jimi Secondary.