by Jack Lapauve Jr, EMTV – Port Moresby
A member of the staff at the Malalaua Vocational Centre has revealed that due to the lack of attention given to the institution by the Gulf provincial government and the national government, dormitories, staff houses and buildings are falling apart.
He added that the decrease in teachers and students this year is attributed to inadequate learning facilities.
At the start of the 2014 academic year, student enrolment reached 200, but slowly decreased due to the bad state that learning facilities are in. The welding instructor told EM TV, that not more than 50 students are attending classes.
Before the centre shifts from being a vocational to technical school, the government is asked to quickly intervene.
“It will be a TVET College for Gulf province, but the current status does not allow for transformation”, he said.
The ongoing problems include the lack of accommodation for boarding students, resulting in students being accommodated in classrooms.
Other problems highlighted, include the state of the administration buildings, run-down learning facilities for tourism and hospitality, mechanic, welding and other trade courses offered.
He added that, deteriorating infrastructure in educational institutions continue to affect the teaching and learning process of students and teachers.
