Port Moresby Technical College has received a grant of 1 million kina from the Secretary of the National Planning and Monitoring Department, Mr. Koney Samuel. He visited the college during lunchtime on Monday, May 12, 2025.
During his visit, he assured the college staff that the grant had been approved in front of the Governing Council Chairman, the Principal, Heads of Departments, and staff. The college received a cheque for one million kina from the Secretary.
Before presenting the cheque, Mr. Samuel emphasized the need for the country to produce more graduates in technical fields to drive national progress. He noted that as the premier technical institution in the country, this grant will enhance infrastructure facilities for technical skills training, addressing the urgent demand for a skilled workforce.
He acknowledged that while there are other technical schools in Papua New Guinea, the majority of students prefer to train at Port Moresby Technical College. According to him, training more technical personnel will help the nation advance, especially as it approaches 50 years of independence. He stated, “As a government organization, we have identified key priorities for allocating funds to support the development of learning infrastructure that fosters better skills training.” This investment is particularly vital in light of the upcoming new mining and oil and gas projects.
Mr. Samuel predicted a significant turning point for the nation by September 16, 2025. He expressed that the government would need to reset its strategic direction for the next two decades. He emphasized that children are the future of the nation and must receive quality education. He also mentioned that funding allocations to other sectors would be periodically reviewed as the country seeks effective solutions to its cash flow challenges.
Secretary presented the one million kina cheque to Mr. Kaime Kipi, the Chairman of the Governing Council, and Mr. Henry Waimangu, the Principal, commending their dedication to training the youth at Port Moresby Technical College. He expressed gratitude to the college’s academic staff for their commitment to building the nation through knowledge and skills training.
In response, Principal Waimangu praised the grant, stating that it would significantly support the development of the new Diploma in Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Business program and other technical training areas. Chairman Kipi concluded by assuring Mr. Samuel that the Governing Council aligns its work plans with the national medium-term development goals. He expressed appreciation for the one million kina funding, which will enhance the college’s efforts in achieving its training objectives.
