Port Moresby Technical College

The graduation saw 687 young men and women graduated with National Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced and Diplomas in various technical skills, at the Sir John Guise Indoor Complex.

The theme of the 59^th Graduation Ceremony of the Port Moresby Technical College was “Empowering Graduates to build a Better Future through Technical Education and Industry Progress”.

The students did not attend classes this morning. They staged a peaceful protest within their school premises calling on the government to explain why only a few applications of students were considered for the Higher Education Loan Program, or HELP.

According to the students, only three out of the seven courses offered by the school were considered for the loan program. From the 600 students of these three courses, only 150 applications were approved.

Though the institution has progressed slowly, it has transformed well.

Port Moresby Technical College has been offering certificate programs for the last seven decades. However, since the lodging of the five year strategic plan, changes have taken place in the areas of school infrastructure, staff and curriculum development.

The project initiatives in the college were six fully completed lecture rooms with hard equipment, three fully completed staff houses, one electrical library building and a perimeter fencing.

The 70 male students who were in class when the dormitory burnt down lost all their personal belongings. The fire, which was aided by strong winds, engulfed the building, leaving the students with no chance to rescue their belongings as it burnt down very quickly.

The extreme heat had also affected the nearby dormitory housing 80 other male students, which is now uninhabitable. Students from both dormitories are now accommodated temporarily at the Yumi Yet properties at Gerehu, which is costing the College K70,000.