Students need to know about their choices

STUDENTS should be aware of the opportunities available to them so they can make informed decisions if they miss out during the selection process, Institute of Business Studies (IBS) College of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Tvet) principal Dr Thirumal Raman says.
IBS College of Tvet held its open day on Friday to inform all grade 10 and 12 students around the National Capital District about the different courses they had to offer.
“This is a great opportunity for these kids to know what they can decide on in the future if they don’t secure a place in other universities or colleges,” Raman said.
He said aside from students, the invitation was open to parents, sponsors and the public.
Raman said IBS had upgraded its course curriculum to be equivalent to Tafe Australia programmes.
Course coordinator Aaron Hihina said education was becoming a marketable product.
He said many people were taking up courses at tertiary institutions and schools but needed to be aware of the quality and value of the courses and programmes.
Hihina said the courses they offered were not only for school leavers but for individuals who wanted to add another qualification or enhance their value and marketability in their industries and professions.
He said IBS had customised the Tafe curriculum which the school was using now.
“Within the last three to four years we have done two major restructures and the current restructure is customising the Tafe college curriculum into one curriculum,” he said.
IBS College of Tvet offers certificate level, diploma and Bachelor degree courses in their business programme in information technology, business management, accounting and human resource management.
Students and representatives from secondary schools who attended the open day included Gordon Secondary, Kilakila Secondary, Kopkop College, Port Moresby National High School, Badiagwa Secondary and Iarowari High School.
Gordon Secondary grade 12 student McLeen Peny said PNG had only three universities and competition to enter them was high and he was grateful that institutions like IBS were providing school leavers other options.
Schoolmate Barry Lavlama said attending the open day and going to the different stalls had given him a better understanding of the possibilities particularly in pursuing a business course.
“At the IT stall, I learned that information technology is linked to business unlike before when it was just manual and these are some of the things we don’t learn in school,” he said.
Lavlama said if he was not able to secure a place at one of the major tertiary institutions next year, he would choose IBS to continue his studies.