Growing the number of skilled workers in the country means growing Papua New Guinea’s Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. This was an initiative by Australia and Papua New Guinea through the Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership which was signed during the virtual summit leaders of Prime Ministers James Marape and Scott Morrison.
This initiative expands support to the TVET sector in three locations - beginning with Bougainville, the Western Highlands, and Manus, and was launched by Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Jon Philp.
“Skills development will be essential to PNG’s economic recovery from the impacts of COVID-19,” said Philp. “Continued access to education and skills is vital for livelihoods, human development and national advancement. Australia is committed to working with the Papua New Guinean Government to expand TVET training opportunities.”
Philp added that both governments continue to work hard to service more people from Papua New Guinea - including disadvantaged groups and women.
“For PNG to become globally competitive, we must ensure that higher and technical education is equally accessible to all students and is of quality and relevance to meet economic and local needs. This in turn will reduce the country’s dependence on skills workers from abroad,” said the Department of Higher Education, Research Science and Technology Secretary, Professor Father Jan Czuba.
Over the next six years, Australia will also provide PGK107 million to support the Australia Pacific Technical Coalition to work with the TVET colleges in meeting local industry demand for skilled labour. It is also expected that through institutional partnerships, improving TVET means having the people grow local industries and welcome opportunities provided by Australia’s Pacific Labour Mobility programs.
