Papua New Guinea's TVET: at the crossroads

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a developing country and is considered as the biggest island state in the Pacific with 7.2 million people population with diverse culture. It gained its independence in 1975 with only 15 per cent of its population in formal employment. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is one of the institutions in PNG that provides skills training to its people for possible employment. Although, TVET regulations come into different state agencies, it has contributed to the workforce demand in the country. It undertakes training on qualifications framework since 2005 as part of the reforms in the country's TVET system through the Department of Education. The government's Strategic Management Plan (SMP) is dependent on the government's political will to centralize and regulate the entire TVET system in the country.

This paper presents the different practices and strategies of TVET in PNG. It focuses on the current practices in strategic planning, priorities, essential good practices, and lessons learned in nurturing the TVET system. This paper covers the following: the context of PNG and its education system; key challenges in developing a national TVET strategy to meet local and global challenges; major strategies adopted and paradigm shifts in the current TVET strategic plan; major achievements and best practices; and lessons learned and future challenges.

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