Training programme gets new complex

Fisheries training has been given a massive boost with the opening of a K560,000 training complex in Kokopo yesterday.
Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Patrick Basa opened the National Fisheries Authority-funded complex at Woolnough Vocational Centre.
It aims to train students in fishing, aquaculture and sea food handling.
Basa said it was through the commitment of the Department of Education and NFA that such quality fisheries training programmes were provided at technical vocation education training (Tvet) institutions.
An agreement on fisheries training was signed in 2015 between NFA and Tvet institutions.
Woolnough is the second to get a new training building under that agreement.
Basa, however, said there had been many challenges faced in the provision of fisheries training in Tvet centres.
Those included the theft of training equipment, the need for appropriate training and certification of instructors, enabling instructors to be on Education Department payroll and lack of proper classrooms.
He said many of those challenges were now being addressed by NFA and the Education Department.
Basa urged the school board, staff, students, the community and villages to take pride in the school.
East New Britain Deputy Governor Cosmas Bauk said the establishment of the facility would provide life skills training.
“East Mew Britain is a maritime province,” he said.