Madang Technical college introduces down-linking concept to Pai vocational centre

Madang technical college is helping Pai Vocational Centre in Tari, Hela Province, create an educational and training pathway for its students through a new concept that it has developed.

The concept is called down-linking, and its primary aim is to encourage and give hope to Tari students to continue their higher certificate and diploma studies at Madang Technical College after completing their TVET and FODE studies.

Last week, the college's Deputy Principal, Administration, Robert Turik, and Deputy Principal, Academic, Herman Bangu visited Pai Vocational Centre to introduce the concept.

Bangu is also head of the welding and drafting department and cabinet making and joinery department.

Turik said the students at Pai vocational centre were excited with the concept.

"The concept will give hope to the young people of Tari to take up TVET and FODE studies because they will create an opportunity for them to move onto Madang Technical College for their higher certificates and diploma studies," he said.

The staff and students at the Pai Vocational Centre were very happy with the opportunity, which they said was a first- of- its- kind.

They were particularly impressed that a far- away school in the coastal region has proposed a concept to an institution in the upper Highlands.

Turik said teachers from Pai TVET will pay a return visit to Madang Technical College soon to see how the programs are run.

"During last week's visit, dialogue was established for the TVET teachers to visit Madang Technical College in November to gain exposure and more understanding of TVET teaching using Competency Base Teaching & Assessment (CBT&A).

"We will also help them with training curriculum, as well as develop programs for them," he added.

Pai Vocational Centre is part of Hope Institute, a privately run educational institution in Tari.

Besides TVET training, Hope Institute also runs a Flexibe Open Distance Education (FODE) centre, creating greater educational advantages for young people.

The students were excited and were challenged by the TVET manager to complete their TVET and FODE studies in order to be able to apply for the studies at Madang Technical College.

Turik said application forms were also given out to the students and Madang Tech is looking forward to enrol its first students next year under the Down-Linking concept should they meet the requirements.

The college has already established similar partnerships with TVET schools in other provinces like East New Britain and Manus.