Morata vocational centre’s graduates up

MORATA Lions Vocational Centre (MLVC) was on the verge of closing down in 2005 but the school had fought hard to continue to provide technical and skills-based training education to less-privileged youths in the National Capital District.
MLVC manager Hilary Damke acknowledged this during the school’s 30th graduation held at Waigani Car Club in Port Moresby recently.
Mr Damke said the school was in the verge of closing down in 2005 due to lack of funding when he took over as a manager and kept the school running until now.
“I revived the school in 2006 to help the less-privileged youths (young men and women) at Morata and other suburbs, settlements and villages in NCD,” he said.
Mr Damke said with the support from the Ginigoada Business Group, Boroko Rotary Club, Daltron, Digicel, Farmset and the Justice Department, MLVC was able to revive its declining phase in 2006 and would continue to provide skills-based technical training to our young people.
The school made a big improvement this year with a total of 178 students graduating with certificates in different disciplines compared with only 14 in 2006, 30 in 2007 and 90 students last year.
“Every year the enrolment figure of students is increasing so next year I’m expecting at least 200 students,” Mr Damke said.
The courses offered included motor mechanic, welding, carpentry and joinery, panel beating and spray painting, plumbing, tourism and hospitality, business studies and electrical.
MLVC was established in 1977 through the initiative of the Lions Club.
Meanwhile, NCD Governor Powes Parkop’s assistance to the centre was also acknowledged.