Nabilah S
The Pacific Training Institute, a facility for technical and vocational education training, received its official opening today in Lae’s 11 mile.
Construction began in 2019 and was completed in 2022, the year that it welcomed its first group of students.
It was a double celebration for the new institute as they awarded national certificates in business administration and heavy equipment fitting to 12 of their second set of graduates. According to the operations manager, Edward Buasin, the parent firm of the institute, Pacific Cranes & Engineering, recognized a gap in the market and established the Pacific Training Institute to fill it.
Although Moresby and Madang were choices, Buasin says, “we assumed it was isolated.
“We chose to invest here and have invested about K1.5 million to put up the facility since we felt that Lae was more central and the facility would be accessible to Highlands students, New Guinea Islands, Momase, and Southern Region as well.” Heavy equipment fitting, light vehicle mechanic, and auto electrical are the trades that are available. PTI graduated its first class of nine students in 2022 after they successfully completed their 22-week training program. With today’s second group, there are now 21 PTI graduates overall.
The university is now operating solely on the basis of school fees, which is a problem, according to Buasin.
“We don’t receive any outside assistance. The costs are therefore substantial.” The costs for all trades are K7,300 for this year. A business degree costs about K4,900. You will discover that our fees are more than those charged by government organizations because those organizations don’t have to pay for utilities, salaries, or other expenses.” Basically, we have to pay for everything to keep the building running.” Additionally, the demand for quality in the sector is loud and clear.
“If the government can come in and cooperate with us and relieve the parents on the burden to pay a hefty price, it would go a long way in helping parents and put through more kids,” the principal said, “it would go a long way in helping parents and put through more students.”
Up to 70 students may enroll in the Pacific Training Institute each semester. Lason Peter, minister of community development, youth, and religion, presided over today’s ceremony and expressed his support through giving.
Huon Gulr will assign a set number of district students to enroll in courses at the Institute and secure Funding to support it.
