(ANS – East Boroko)– Don Bosco Technological Institute, East Boroko held a Trade Skills Competition on the 8th of October, 2015 to showcase the talent, knowledge and skills of the students. Selected second year students battled it out at the competition for various tasks according to their technologies. The judges were representatives from industry and instructors at various technical institutions.

By Ms. Arlene Abital

The theme was “Empowering Youth through Technical Education”.  Mr Johnny Lo Yep, Program Manager of TVET congratulated the institute for organizing the event on a very fitting theme.

The institution’s motto, “Competence and Character”, was re-emphasized by DBTI Rector, Fr Louie Castaneda, SDB in his speech. He said, “Show your skills in your different technology”.

These became evident as the students of various departments (Computer Technology, Electrical and Electronics Technology, Maintenance Fitting and Machining, Motor Vehicle and Drafting Technology) demonstrated their skills to professional and academic personnel of various institutions.

The Principal, Fr Ariel Macatangay, SDB, told the participants and the audience that “it is our dream at Don Bosco to develop the skills of the young following the PNG National Qualification Framework”. He further said that before the end of 2015 MFM instructors from any Don Bosco schools will be sent to India for a two-month training course with the support of PNG/SI Delegation, and that in December invited people will come over to DBTI to design standardized instructional materials in Electrical and Motor Vehicle Technologies across the other technical training providers.

The following day, Friday 9 October, seven young men received their certificates from Fr Castañeda, SDB. The seven in 2012 were sent to Canada by PNG LNG (Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas) and now have successfully completed a four-week refresher training course at DBTI to help them prepare for their Licensing Exam for Tradesman scheduled in February 2016. Personnel from ExxonMobil headed by Mr. Mark Moore, Electrical and Instrumentation Supervisor of PNG LNG, were present for the short facilitation programme.

DBTI is grateful to ExxonMobil for the opportunity given to provide training to their technical workers. The Principal, Fr Ariel Macatangay, SDB, said that this partnership between DBTI and ExxonMobil began in 2014, when ExxonMobil came over to Mary Our Help Ladies’ Dormitory to donate twenty Laptops.  This training has paved the way for future initiatives.

Published 13/10/2015