MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
I am pleased to announce the opening of the newly refurbished Masonry and
General Mechanical Workshops at the Vanuatu Institute of Technology, part of an
$11.2 million (approximately 830m Vt) institutional strengthening project,
funded by Australia.
The funding will help address a skills shortage in Vanuatu.
'Hundreds of students of business, carpentry, hospitality, tourism and
engineering are benefiting from the project which began in 1997 and will
conclude next year,' the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Chris
Gallus, MP said today.
'The project has supported the transition of the Institute from a purely
French teaching institution to the country's premier institution providing
technical and vocational education in both French and English.'
'Through Australian advisers, training has been provided to enhance the
skills of the Institute's teachers and to assist them with curriculum
development and the production of learning materials. This will lead to greater
employment opportunities and improve management and management training as well
as strengthen the teaching profession in Vanuatu,' Mrs Gallus said.
Links with the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Industry
Advisory Committee have been developed to ensure that the curricula meet
industry needs.
'The project has also helped achieve breakthroughs in access and equity. In
1996, roughly two-thirds of the students at the Institute were French-speaking.
Today, almost half are French-speaking and half English-speaking. Almost half
the students are now women with an increasing number enrolling in
non-traditional areas of study such as mechanics and electrical works,' she
said.
Women have also been the largest group of recipients under an equity scholarship program. Scholarships have been given to 17 female disadvantaged
students, 7 male disadvantaged students and to 2 students with disabilities to
enable them to pursue careers in various trades.
Contacts:
Craig Bildstien (Office of Mrs Gallus) 02 6277 4840
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960