Training on the job gives student better skills

By MICHAEL LAI
GRADE 11 student Nancy Meapura says she learns more from on-the-job training than in the classroom.
The Caritas Technical Secondary School student in Port Moresby said her training stint at the Laguna Hotel as a waitress really helped her learn more about tourism and hospitality management skills.
For example, she learnt how to approach and talk to people she had not met before.
Although she found the training challenging, it was interesting because she learnt things not taught in the classroom.
Meapura, 17, was one of 11 girls who underwent training at the hotel in Port Moresby.
“The school taught us skills of tourism, how to deal with people and help others,” she said.
“While mastering those skills, we learnt more. We do napkin-folding, table-skating for conferences and meetings, greeting visitors and serving them, delivering food and beverages to tables, and organising them.”
The training was organised by the school.
They spent eight hours a day there over five weeks.
The school wanted them to complete the training before their graduation next year.
She said the training would help her find a job in the tourism industry.