On-the-job training seen as big boost to job search

By JIMMY KALEBE
TECHNICAL and vocational training certificates alone cannot guarantee a person a job unless he or she undergoes on-the-job training, says an official.
Menyamya Vocational Training Centre deputy manager Yokea Guwo said that once students graduated with their certificates under technical vocational education and training (Tvet) programmes, they had to go for job training.
He likened Tvet accreditation to grade 10 and 12 certificates because it was just a document showing that the student had taken the course in theory, but the actual hands-on experience was not there.
Guwo made the comments after assisting 51 students get on-the-job training with various companies in Lae.
He said students who did job training had hands-on experience courses were in a better position to find work.
“With no reference or such from the company informing that the person had done on-the-job training, their certificate has no weight,” Guwo said.
“I am appealing to those Tvet institutions in Morobe that don’t engage their students in on-the-job training to start doing so.” Guwo said students doing their final year at any Tvet institution must go through three to four months on-the-job training so that it would be easier to find work.
He suggested that Tvet centres in the province should collaborate with higher institutions for further education.
Attempts to get comments from the Morobe Tvet authorities were unsuccessful.