Technical Vocational Education

Vocational education is a skills-oriented education offered primarily to students completing Grade 8, others dropping out from post primary institutions and the wider community. The Manus vocational education and training centre programmes are designed to provide skills that are relevant for community development and for preparing individuals for meaningful and peaceful coexistence with others.

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Management

The Boards of Management are responsible and accountable for all school finances, plants and assets. Proper stock control and accounting procedures had not been followed and adhered to. The only two Vocational Centres in Manus have lacked proper management, accountability and their businesses are not being transparently administered. Staff management and supervision at the centres have remained loose and staff relationships have yet to improve despite numerous directives. Both centres have lacked direction, guidance and proper management skills.

Plan

To offer varieties of competency based and enterprising skills courses of one to two-year duration and short term to school leavers in order for them to gain appropriate technical and vocational skills to satisfy both personal and community needs.

Quality

Two-year trade programmes are being offered but the syllabuses and the curriculum are outdated. It is imperative that course content be reviewed to include simple village technology skills that are conducive to generating income and growth in the rural economy. The province will need to consolidate efforts of the centres to provide increased opportunities for school leavers. Short extension courses in relevant and appropriate trade and skills areas will be developed to meet immediate local needs.

Teacher Education

The successful implementation of a much wider range of vocational courses will require programs to prepare appropriately qualified teachers and supervisors, as well as proactive and entrepreneurial management.