By Jacob Niru (UPNG Journalism student) – EMTV News ,Port Moresby
Creating avenues for school leavers to get back into the normal standardised system of education, is the way forward.
Principal, Mr Kami, of Pacific Arts and Technical Institute reveals this recently, while preparing for the school’s 2015 enrolments in Port Moresby.
The principal and staff of the Pacific Arts and Technical Institute believe that the increasing number of dropouts, from primary and secondary schools in Papua New Guinea, is a growing concern.
Despite the government’s attention on prioritising tuition fee free education, the increasing number of dropouts has not been addressed.
But many non-government institutions are assisting in helping and building the human capital of PNG.
Principal Norbert Kami said that the Pacific Arts and Technical Institute is proud to be giving a second chance to grade eight and ten drop outs of the formal education system.
The director of the school, Jacob Barker says, the school is newly established, and with the support from highly qualified teachers, they are prepared to drive and equip students with much needed skills and knowledge, to build a stronger national human resource base in PNG.
The school is offering academic and technical courses for both genders.
The technical courses provide opportunities for direct employment, while the academic aspect is where grade eight and ten school leavers continue on to grade 12.
The school also gives chance to grade 12 leavers to do an upgrading programme for six months and assists them to apply for further studies in various universities and colleges within PNG, and abroad.
While the school is ready to offer what PNG needs for fulfilling the government’s vision 2020 and 2050 for a quality and vibrant nation, shortage of funding on infrastructure for development is a paramount concern.
Meanwhile, students who are wondering on the streets have been fully encouraged to grasp the opportunities that the school is offering.
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