Gabutu, Port Moresby, PNG 20 July 2024 -- Caritas PNG, in collaboration with the National Catholic Education Secretariat (NCES) and the Social Communications Commission (SOCOM) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNGSI, recently hosted the inaugural Tech Talk to commemorate World Youth Skills Day on July 15 at Don Bosco Technical School, Gabutu.
Over 140 students and teachers from various institutions, including Don Bosco Technological Institute, Boroko; Don Bosco Technical School, Gabutu; Maino Heduru TVET School; La Salle Technical Secondary School, Hohola; Mary Help of Christians Technical TVET and FODE Centre, Boroko; and Caritas Technical Secondary School, Boroko, attended the event. The gathering also included media representatives, invited guests, and partners such as the Building Community Engagement Program (BCEP).
The event featured a panel discussion split into two sessions, which brought together technical education service providers and industrial recruiters.
Fr Lawrence Arockiraj, Commission Secretary for National Catholic Education, and Br. Anthony Swamy, Principal of La Salle Technical Secondary School, were among the panellists in session one. They discussed the challenges faced by technical education service providers.
“We have limited specialized teachers to teach specific trades, making it difficult to train our students well in certain high-demand technical fields. There is also the struggle of government support, but as teachers and institutions, we should not only seek government assistance but also find other resources to sustain our schools while waiting for funding,” stated Fr Lawrence.
He urged the government to collaborate with the Catholic Church for effective discussions and solutions to the issues faced by technical institutions.
Br. Anthony highlighted the limited pathways to obtain teaching resources and the shortage of personnel to teach technical courses, as many trained teachers had moved to industrial opportunities. He emphasized the need to remove the stigma of technical schools being considered "second category," noting that technical education and TVET provide better job opportunities in high-demand industries.
The second session featured representatives from Josien Training & Consultancy, Steamships Trading Company, Coral Sea Hotels, and Total Energies.
Ms. Mary-Anne Reen from Total Energies discussed the projected expansion of PNG's resource sector and the significant demand for various technical skills such as maritime workers, communication and ICT specialists, construction workers, geotechnical officers, and logistics operators.
Mr. Joe Kavatpuo, CEO of Josien Training & Consultancy, and an alumnus of Don Bosco, emphasized the importance of the formation received at Catholic institutions in shaping value systems and character. He stated that recruiters seek reliable, honest, punctual, and committed employees.
Ms. Natasha Austin, Steamships Talent Manager Human Resources, encouraged students to leverage current trends and market their skills. She urged students to be self-reliant and proactive in learning, as managers prefer employees who are committed to continuous learning.
Ms. Judith Thomas, HR Business Partner for Coral Sea Hotels, challenged schools to proactively seek partnerships with industries for On-the-Job training opportunities for their students. She highlighted the increasing demand for skilled personnel in industries and the need for students from the hospitality and tourism trades to support the hotel sector.
The program concluded with a Q&A session, providing further insights and discussions.
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