Technical schools lack training

By LORRAINE JIMAL
MORE teacher training and curriculum improvement are needed in technical education and vocational training (Tvet) schools to get more students hands on various trade skills, a research revealed.
This was revealed through a research done in five Tvet schools in the country recently.
Prof Kenneth Sumbuk, from the PNG Education Advocacy Network, said Tvet schools had inadequate resources and lack of training to equip teachers to train students.
“There are no clear pathways for students needing skills training,” he said.
“There is no flexibility for students to do both academic subjects and skills training at the same time.
“This is the main drawback on the Tvet programme not being adequately implemented and will be for an unforeseeable future so long as the resource constraints for this sub-sector do not improve.”
Sumbuk said no clear budget line for the Tivet sub-sector and technical institutions lack appropriate infrastructure, equipment and technical teachers both in quantity, qualification and experiences. He said Tvet should be prioritised because it would foster youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, promoting equity and gender equality and
facilitating the transition to green economies and sustainable societies.
He urged the government and the authority to carry out a total review of the education system in order to include and reflect on the importance of Tvet now that it was equivalent to higher education.
The research was done in Malaguna Technical and Kokopo Technical Secondary Schools in East New Britain, Marienberg Technical Secondary School in East Sepik, Malahang Technical Secondary School in Morobe and Badihagwa Technical Secondary School in NCD.