Tvet students complete studies in Australia

By NAOMI WASE
A total of 27 students have completed technical trade programmes in Townsville, Australia, under the PNG Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Tvet) skills scholarship programme.
The programme was initiated in 2012 by the Department of Higher Education, Research Science and Technology in partnership with the Department of National Planning and Monitoring.
Acting deputy secretary Steven Matainaho said PNG needed to develop its manufacturing services, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and eco-tourism sectors and minimise dependency on minerals and petroleum in the future.
“The country must develop the necessary skills and innovation to achieve this economic shift.”
He said the Government had recognised the importance of technical education not only for sectors of resource extraction but also to drive change in the economy.
“In a span of five years, this government has injected about K85 million into the 10-year Tvet skills scholarship programme,” Matainaho said.
“Since then, over 1000 (students) have undertaken specialised technical training overseas.”
He said the two departments were working on repositioning the programme to be more relevant to driving developments within districts and improving value for money.
Matainaho said the Government had also injected K300 million into the higher and technical education sector and of this K300 million, K120 million had gone to capital investments and rehabilitation works of the post-secondary Tvet institutions.”
He also said the Government would run the scholarship programme in the country through technical institutions starting next year.