Skul bilong wok na save, na wok bilong bildim kantri long Papua Niugini
Rod Benson i raitim
Lae em wanpela siti em graun na ples bilong en i bin stiaim tru histori bilong en. Lae i stap long het bilong Huon Gulf, klostu long maus bilong Markham River, long hap we wanpela bikpela veli i op namel long ol strongpela maunten na solwara. Long baksait bilong ples daun klostu long nambis, Atzera Range na ol arapela maunten i go antap; na long hap bilong insait, Markham Valley i kamap olsem wanpela bikpela rot bilong natija i go insait long hap is bilong Niugini. Ples i hot bilong tropiks, na ren i save pundaun planti tru.
Wanpela wok painimaut bilong Australian National University, em i yusim ol rekot bilong weda bilong planti yia, i makim olsem averes tempresa long Lae em klostu 26°C na Lae i kisim klostu 4.5 mita ren long wanpela yia. Humidity tu i save stap antap long bikpela hap bilong yia. Ol maunten raun long Lae i pasim na kisim wara i kam wantaim win long Huon Gulf, na dispela i mekim ren long Lae i bikpela moa winim ol ples i stap moa insait long Markham Valley.
Longtaim tru paslain long ol Yurop i tingting long wokim taun long Lae, ol Indigenous komiuniti i stap pinis long ples daun klostu long nambis, long ol wara na long ol veli klostu. Ol i gat ol kastom bilong holim na yusim graun, wok gaden, kisim pis, painim abus, senisim ol samting na wokim ples bilong sindaun. Ol stori bilong bihain i kolim ol Labu, Lae na Ahi olsem sampela bilong ol lain em graun bilong ol i bihain i go insait long siti i wok long kamap bikpela. Ol Wampar i stap moa insait long Markham Valley.
Histori bilong Morobe em James Sinclair i raitim i tok olsem Lae bilong nau i kamap long wanpela hap graun we bipo ol liklik ples i stap, na ol manmeri bilong ol dispela ples i bin stap long dispela hap inap planti jeneresen paslain long ol bikpela senis bilong ekonomi long yia 1900 samting. Taim ol i putim wanpela taun bilong koloni long hap, kastom pasin bilong holim graun i no pinis. Taim Lae i wok long go bikpela, taun i bung planti taim wantaim graun i stap yet aninit long kastom ona.
Ekonomi bilong dispela hap paslain long taun bilong koloni i no wanpela samting i stap nating o i stap longwe long ol arapela ples. Ol komiuniti i wokim gaden, yusim ol wara na solwara bilong kisim kaikai, senisim ol samting, na holim ol sosel koneksen i go long nambis na insait long Markham Valley na ol veli klostu. Graun na maunten bilong hap i strongim tupela samting wantaim: ol ples i gat narapela narapela pasin, na ol manmeri i save raun. Ol wara i givim kaikai na rot bilong raun, tasol ol i stap tu olsem banis na hevi. Ol gutpela veli i sapotim wok gaden.
Olsem na dispela tingting bilong nau we yumi brukim “siti” na “ples” i no inap soim gutpela piksa bilong dispela hap bipo. Ol manmeri i bin stap, raun na yusim graun pinis. Taun bilong koloni i no kamap long wanpela graun i stap nating.
Senis bilong Lae i go hariap tru long taim bilong Morobe gold rush long 1920s na 1930s. Taim ol i painim gol long Wau, Bulolo na Edie Creek, ol prospecta, kampani, masin na wokman i kam long dispela maunten hap em i hat tru long kisim saplai long rot bilong graun. Pastaim Salamaua i stap olsem bikpela ples bilong bringim ol samting i kam long nambis, tasol hatpela rot i go long hap bilong gol i mekim balus i kamap moa na moa bikpela samting.
Long 1927 Cecil Levien i stretim wok bilong wokim ples balus long Lae, na dispela i opim rot bilong balus i go long Wau. Dispela airlift i kamap wanpela bilong ol bikpela na narakain wok logistik long Pasifik namel long tupela bikpela pait bilong wol. Ol balus i karim pasindia, kaikai, fiul na masin i go insait, wantaim ol hap bilong ol bikpela gol dredge em ol i bungim gen long Bulolo Valley. Long kirap bilong 1930s, Lae i kamap wanpela taun em wok bilong en i pas strong long ples balus na sapot bilong gol ekonomi.
Dispela i givim Lae wanpela strongpela teknikal mak paslain tru long wanpela formal technical college i kamap. Ol i mas sevisim balus, putim kago na fiul, stretim ol kar na trak, sanapim ol haus, ranim ol workshop, lukautim rot na airstrip, stretim kago na bungim masin.
Planti bilong ol formal save bilong engineering i stap yet long han bilong ol expatriate, tasol ol Papua Niugini wokman i lainim ol praktikal skil long ol aviation kampani, gavman dipatmen, garage, konstraksen na ol bisnis. Planti taim teknikal skul i kamap long wok yet: lukim narapela i mekim, mekim gen planti taim, wok aninit long wanpela man i gat save, na isi isi kisim bikpela responsibiliti.
Namba Tu Wol Pait i senisim Lae gen. Bihain long Japan i kisim Rabaul, Australian administration i bin stat redim Lae long kamap nupela kapital bilong Mandated Territory. Tasol ol soldia bilong Japan i kisim Lae long 8 Mas 1942 paslain long dispela senis i kamap. Lae i kamap wanpela bikpela bes bilong Japan na Allied forces i bomim taun planti taim.
Long Septemba 1943, ol Australian forces i muv i go long taun long wanpela wok pait em i bungim ol soldia i kam long sip long hap is bilong Lae na ol paratrooper i pundaun long Nadzab. Ol i kisim bek Lae long 16 Septemba 1943. Pait i bagarapim bikpela hap bilong ples, na i putim bikpela hevi long ol Papua Niugini komiuniti wantaim ol soldia bilong tupela sait.
Pait i mekim teknikal na logistik infrastraksa bilong dispela hap i go bikpela tu. Ol military workshop, airfield, transport sistem, engineering unit, communication na supply depot i wok long wanpela skel em ol i no bin lukim bipo long 1942. Dispela i no teknikal edukesen olsem ol kolis bilong bihain, tasol i mekim planti moa manmeri long hap i save long masin, konstraksen na maintenance.
Bihain long pait, Lae i kisim tupela samting wantaim: infrastraksa i bagarap, na wanpela bikpela moa tingting long wanem samting modern transport na engineering inap mekim. Lae Technical College i kamap klostu tenpela yia bihain, na dispela i stap insait long bikpela senis bilong Lae long wanpela gold-rush na wartime transport centre i go long wanpela permanent industrial city.
Long lainim wok long ples wok i go long formal technical education
Technical education long Papua na Niugini i no stat long Lae long 1950s. Inap planti yia, ol Papua Niugini manmeri i kisim save bilong trade na wok long ol misin, gavman dipatmen na ol employer. Long Papua, ol Kristen misin i wokim sampela bilong ol namba wan organised technical training. Ol misin skul i skulim carpentry, boat-building, blacksmithing, plumbing, motor mechanics na ol arapela skil. Sampela taim gavman i givim mani bilong helpim dispela wok.
Long ol ples olsem Kwato na Yule Island, praktikal training i inap kamapim ol skilled worker husat inap wok long strong bilong ol yet. As bilong dispela training i no wankain olgeta. Ol misin i nidim skilled worker bilong ol wok bilong ol yet, ol i laik strongim ol Kristen komiuniti, na sampela taim ol i laik givim narapela rot long ol manmeri bambai ol i no stap tasol long ol unskilled colonial wok.
Long Territory of New Guinea, Rabaul i kamap nambawan ples bilong formal gavman technical training paslain long pait. Long 1940 wanpela gavman skul long dispela hap i givim planti kain skul, olsem clerical work, printing, blacksmithing, engine maintenance, wok long telegraph line, carpentry, plumbing, painting na cement work. Malaguna, klostu long Rabaul, i bungim general education wantaim vocational education.
Sampela course i soim klia racial na occupational hierarchy bilong colonial society, na i redim ol Papua Niugini manmeri bilong ol wok aninit long narapela, olsem domestic o manual work. Tasol sampela arapela course i givim ol skil em industrial value bilong ol i stap longpela taim.
Lae i kamap long narapela pasin. Paslain long pait, i no gat wanpela gavman technical school olsem Rabaul. Planti technical training i kamap long ples wok. Aviation, transport, Public Works, shipping, plantation workshop na commercial employer i wok olsem informal skul. Wanpela wokman inap stat long ol liklik wok, lainim yus bilong tul na masin wantaim wanpela man i gat save, na isi isi kisim ol wok i hat moa.
Ol gavman dipatmen i bihainim wankain pasin. Posts and Telegraphs, Public Works, mechanical services, shipping na transport i trenim ol wokman bilong ol nid bilong dipatmen yet.
Strong bilong dispela pasin em olsem training i praktikal tru. Ol manmeri i lain long rait masin na stretim ol tru hevi. Tasol hevi bilong en tu i klia. Training i narapela narapela long olgeta ples wok; theoretical teaching inap liklik; wanpela wokman inap kamap gut long liklik hap bilong wok tasol na i no kisim wanpela recognised trade qualification; na skil em wanpela employer i luksave long en, narapela employer inap i no luksave.
Racial hierarchy bilong colonial administration tu i pasim rot bilong planti Papua Niugini manmeri long go antap long wok.
Postwar technical-school system i traim long stretim ol dispela hevi. Iduabada Technical High School long Port Moresby, em i op long 1947, i wanpela namba wan eksampel. Malaguna i stat gen long mekim bikpela wok klostu long Rabaul, na Lae i bihain long 1950s. Formal apprenticeship system i kamap long dispela deked na i givim moa structure. Ol i no lusim workplace training; ol i stat moa long bungim wok wantaim set instruction, recognised occupational category na common standard.
Olsem na yumi mas lukim Lae Technical College i no olsem stat bilong technical training long Papua Niugini, tasol olsem wanpela bikpela hap bilong mekim technical education i kamap wanpela formal national institution.
Stat na gro, 1953–68
Planti taim ol i makim 1953 olsem yia Lae Technical College i stat, maski ol contemporary evidence i soim olsem establishment i kisim sampela yia. Ol institutional account bilong bihain i kolim 1953 olsem formal stat na tok olsem liklik taim bihain skul i muv long hap em Busu Secondary School i stap bihain, i go long permanent site long Milford Haven Road.
Tasol wanpela ripot bilong Pacific Islands Monthly long 1957 i tok long wanpela “Lae Technical Training Centre” em i nupela yet. Dispela i makim olsem bikpela teaching long developed campus ating i stat long namel bilong 1950s. Gutpela rot bilong bungim dispela tupela evidence em long lukim 1953 olsem administrative foundation, na 1954–56 olsem taim ol i wokim physical institution na statim ol bikpela program.
Bikpela man long dispela formative period em Walter Rea Oberg, em ol i save kolim Rea Oberg. Oberg i bin go long Wollongong Technical College na train olsem patternmaker long wanpela ples em wanpela later biography i kolim tasol “Wollongong steelworks.” Yumi no save yet stret wanem company i employim em. Tasol training bilong em i kam long heavy-industrial culture bilong Wollongong na Port Kembla, we apprenticeship, skilled manufacturing na technical education i pas strong wantaim.
Ol i askim Oberg long mekim planti moa samting winim teaching tasol. Em i helpim long developim campus, organiseim ol program, superviseim ol sumatin na mekim wok principal. Aninit long leadership bilong em, skul i givim ol subject olsem carpentry and joinery, fitting and machining, sheet-metal work, automotive engineering, clerical and secretarial studies na general education.
Wok bilong em i soim gutpela pasin bilong institution-building long postwar Papua Niugini. Ol i mas developim ol building, workshop, curriculum, student welfare na staffing wantaim long wankain taim.
Long stat, technical school i bungim planti kain wok em bihain ol secondary school, vocational institution na tertiary college i brukim namel long ol. Ol sumatin inap go het long general education na long wankain taim kisim moa praktikal na technical instruction. Dispela i stret long wanpela Territory we normal secondary education i liklik yet. Technical education inap mekim skul bilong wanpela sumatin i go longpela moa na long wankain taim redim em bilong apprenticeship na employment.
Physical development i go wantaim curriculum i wok long go bikpela. Namel long 1965 na 1969, Andrew Redei, wanpela civil engineer em i bon long Hungary, i mekim wok project officer bilong development na construction bilong Lae Technical College. Taim bilong em i go wantaim senis bilong institution long Technical School i go Technical College, em planti i makim long 1965. Ol nupela workshop na teaching facility i soim wanpela bikpela moa tingting long technical education.
Olsem na senis bilong nem i no makim institutional status tasol. Lae i stat long skulim i no tradesmen tasol, tasol technicians tu, em ol i nidim bikpela moa theoretical na applied knowledge.
Dispela senis i soim tu senis bilong economy bilong Lae. Bihain long pait, siti i kamap wanpela port, manufacturing centre na transport hub. Bihain moa, taim Highlands Highway i op na i kamap gutpela moa, Lae i kamap bikpela commercial gateway i go long populous interior. Industrial expansion i nidim ol manmeri husat inap repairim vehicle, maintainim plant, installim electrical system, prepareim drawing na superviseim technical work.
Wanpela bikpela technical college i stret tru long wanpela siti em olgeta de economy bilong en i dipen long ol dispela skil.
Development bilong college i kamapim ples klia tu wanpela hevi long colonial education. Technical training i givim ol Papua Niugini manmeri rot long kisim ol gutpela skil na nupela occupation, tasol long stat ol i organiseim dispela training bikos gavman na expatriate-controlled industry i nidim labour. Ol administrator i wok long toktok moa long “manpower needs”: hamas fitter, mechanic, electrician, clerk na technician economy i nidim.
Dispela planning i bekim tru ol shortage bilong wokman, tasol inap mekim as bilong education i kamap liklik tumas, olsem supplyim labour tasol.
Tasol long las hap bilong 1960s, dispela occupational framework i wok long senis. Papua Niugini i nidim i no tradespeople tasol, tasol middle-level technicians husat inap wok namel long skilled labour na professional engineering. Ol technical officer, draftsman, laboratory worker na supervisor i nidim moa mathematics, technical drawing, systems knowledge na diagnostic ability winim wanem normal apprenticeship tasol inap givim. Lae Technical College i wok long kisim dispela namel ples bilong education.
National planning na independence, 1969–78
Technical Education and Industrial Training Seminar i kamap long Lae long 9 i go 11 Oktoba 1969, na dispela i makim wanpela bikpela senis. Ol bikpela proceedings bilong seminar i stap yet long Ian Hossack papers long Australian National University. Seminar i toktok long wanpela hevi i kamap taim vocational training i gro hariap tru long gavman dipatmen, ol employer na education institution: ol program i bruk bruk, standard i narapela narapela, na responsibility i karamapim narapela.
Bikpela samting bilong dispela miting em senis long institution-building i go long system-building. Askim i no moa tasol olsem wanpela technical school i mas wok olsem wanem. Ol policymaker i laik save apprenticeship, technical college, employer training na higher technological education i mas pas wantaim olsem wanem long olgeta hap bilong Papua Niugini.
Ol i holim seminar long Lae yet, na dispela i soim Lae i kamap bikpela ples olsem industrial centre na tu olsem ples bilong toktok long national technical-education policy.
Sir John Gunther, wanpela bikpela man long development bilong higher education long Papua Niugini, i toktok long seminar. Participation bilong em i joinim technical education wantaim bikpela wok bilong redim Papua Niugini manmeri long kisim professional na administrative responsibility.
Ol Gunther na Hossack collection i stap yet i soim ol policymaker i traim long wokim wanpela education structure i gat klia ol level: vocational training na apprenticeship long wanpela level, technician education long narapela, na professional technological education antap long dispela.
Long ol yia bihain, dispela discussion i kamap moa systematic. Hossack papers i gat K. R. McKinnon’s Technical Education and Manpower Needs bilong 1970, ol study long localisation, projected enrolment inap 1980, apprenticeship statistics, recurrent-cost calculation na staffing record bilong institution. UNDP na International Labour Organization tu i helpim long assessment bilong workforce na training requirement.
Ol international development agency i wok long lukim technical education olsem wanpela infrastraksa em economy i nidim bilong develop.
Employer sponsorship i soim olsem LTC i pas moa strong wantaim industry. Long 1972, Bougainville Copper—company em i wokim bikpela open-cut Panguna copper mine aninit long agreement bilong 1967—i sapotim 38 scholarship student long Lae Technical College. Dispela namba i winim namba em company i sapotim long Institute of Technology o University of Papua New Guinea. Commercial production long Panguna i stat long Epril 1972.
Dispela comparison i soim occupational pyramid bilong wanpela bikpela industrial enterprise. Professional engineer i bikpela samting, tasol mine na ol arapela bikpela operation i nidim moa yet technicians na tradespeople bilong maintainim plant, superviseim workshop na mekim engineering decision i kamap long praktis.
Ol gavman employer tu i yusim technical education long wankain pasin. Sampela trainee i go long Lae bilong ol block bilong formal instruction na spendim narapela hap bilong yia long supervised employment. Dispela block-release model i holim strongpela samting bilong workplace learning bilong bipo—direct connection wantaim practical experience—na long wankain taim i addim systematic theoretical instruction na recognised certification. Ol specialised national industry tu i yusim college.
Long las hap bilong 1970s, technical training i pas wantaim Lae i helpim training bilong Air Niugini aircraft na airframe personnel. Olsem na college i no moa lukluk tasol long conventional mechanical na building trades. Ol graduate bilong en i kamap hap bilong technical infrastructure bilong aviation, mining, public utility na gavman.
Independence bilong Papua Niugini long Australian colonial rule long 16 Septemba 1975 i senisim political mining bilong ol dispela development. Bipo technical education i supplyim worker bilong economy em Australia i administerim. Nau em i kamap wanpela rot bilong Papua Niugini manmeri long kisim responsibility bilong ol industry na public institution bilong ol yet. Localisation—isi isi senisim expatriate staff wantaim Papua Niugini manmeri i gat stret qualification—i kamap wanpela central policy objective.
Ol document bilong World Bank i mekim dispela purpose i klia tru. Long 1975 LTC i gat nominal capacity bilong klostu 585 student na i wok long graduateim klostu 135 technician long wanpela yia. Plan i laik apim capacity i go klostu 900 student na technician output i go klostu 210 long wanpela yia. Ol i givim moa workshop, teaching facility, equipment, staff housing na library resource, na sampela higher technical course i kamap moa concentrated long Lae.
As bilong dispela i no institutional growth tasol. Em i bilong kamapim planti moa Papua Niugini technician husat inap kisim ol position em bipo ol expatriate i holim.
Tasol expansion i kamapim tu limitation bilong manpower planning. Taim ol i wokim moa student place, dispela i no minim automatically moa student i kam. Long kirap bilong 1980s, enrolment i stap daunbilo long enlarged capacity, maski employer i wok yet long painim qualified technician. Sponsorship arrangement i putim cost long employer. Employer inap mas go het long baim trainee, kisim narapela man bilong kisim ples bilong em, na bihain riskim olsem qualified staff i lusim company na i go long competitor.
Technical education i dipen long incentive na social circumstance em simple workforce projection i no inap makim gut.
Physical reality bilong college tu i gat ol wankain hevi. Technical education i kostim bikpela mani bikos machinery i mas inap long planti strongpela yus na i mas kisim maintenance oltaim. Sampela lathe em development assistance i supplyim i lait tumas bilong workshop condition na i bruk planti taim. Ol kain liklik hevi olsem i bikpela long histori. Ol i soim difference namel long planning wanpela institution na mekim institution i wok gut long olgeta de.
Independence, staff na laip long campus
Las hap bilong 1970s na 1980s i bringim moa senis long educational structure bilong LTC. Old technical high-school stream i pinis isi isi klostu 1979–80, taim secondary education i gro long ol arapela ples. Forty-week Pre-Employment Technical Training Certificate, em ol i kolim PETT, i kisim ples bilong en. College i go het wantaim apprenticeship instruction na higher technical certificate course. LTC i wok long kamap klia olsem wanpela post-secondary institution.
Wanpela strong bilong en em olsem i recruitim ol educator husat i gat bikpela industrial experience. Oberg i representim dispela tradition long 1950s. Wanpela generation bihain, Martin Benson i joinim college long Me 1978 bilong skulim mechanical engineering, bihain long klostu 20 yia olsem engineer wantaim John Lysaght long Wollongong–Port Kembla industrial district.
Bihain em i holim ol senior teaching na departmental responsibility, paslain long em i muv i go long Papua New Guinea University of Technology klostu long namel bilong 1980s.
Dispela comparison i givim gutpela insight. Oberg i kamap skilled tradesman na institution-builder long colonial period; Benson i kam olsem experienced professional engineer long independent Papua Niugini. Tupela wantaim i bringim knowledge em ol i kisim long strongpela industrial environment i kam insait long technical education. Ol student i lainim moa samting winim stret procedure tasol.
Ol experienced lecturer inap skulim pasin bilong diagnosis, precision, safety, maintenance na judgement—dispela praktikal reasoning em man i nidim taim wanpela machine o system i no bihainim wanem textbook i tok.
Ol memory bilong dispela period i kolim Bob Potts olsem principal long sampela hap bilong 1970s, na Roger Dingle, Rex Drage na Norm Chambers olsem sampela bilong teaching staff. Chambers i skulim electrical engineering. Ating Dingle i kam long Australian Volunteers Abroad, tasol yumi no gat document yet bilong confirmim dispela.
Ol dispela nem i bikpela long social history bilong institution, tasol ol i kamapim tu wanpela bikpela archival problem. Ol Australian lecturer i isi moa long painim long ol surviving Australian record winim ol Papua Niugini colleague bilong ol.
Olsem na bikpela wok i no pinis yet long histori bilong LTC em long painim na rekonstraktim stori bilong Papua Niugini teaching staff long 1970s na 1980s. Localisation i no pinis tasol taim Papua Niugini graduate i go insait long industry. Wanpela tru national technical college i nidim tu Papua Niugini lecturer, workshop instructor, department head na administrator. Detailed Technical Division staffing record i stap yet, tasol planti i no digital yet.
Inap long taim ol researcher i lukim ol dispela source na college record long gutpela pasin, wanpela histori em i lukluk tumas long expatriate inap soim bias bilong surviving archive, na i no tru laip bilong institution.
Ol student yet i kam long olgeta hap bilong Papua Niugini. Wanpela yangpela man o meri bilong Highlands, Islands, Momase o Southern Region inap kam long Lae na bungim ol arapela student em language na kastom background bilong ol i narapela tru. Long ol yia klostu long Independence, college i wok olsem wanpela liklik laboratory bilong national life.
Technical education i bungim ol manmeri i no long workshop tasol, tasol long dormitory, lotu, sport, student organisation na laip bilong siti.
Wanpela liklik nius item long Tok Pisin niuspepa Wantok long 1975 i givim yumi wanpela narakain lukluk long student life. Wanpela “studen Lae Tek” i tok long em i go long Lae Youth Centre bilong lusim skul liklik, bungim ol arapela yangpela manmeri na toktok. Tok bilong em i no wanpela bikpela samting long em yet. Tasol stret long dispela as, em i valuable. Administrative history i tok long enrolment na course; ol liklik stori olsem i soim ol student olsem ol yangpela adult i wok long lainim pasin bilong friendship, leisure na urban life.
Lae Tech Catering School i givim tu wanpela gutpela na memorable connection namel long college na siti. Long olgeta Fraide, ol student i save givim three-course restaurant-style lunch long public long prais i daun tru. Planti manmeri i laikim dispela, na em i gutpela education tu. Ol student i lainim preparation, timing, presentation, service na hospitality long wanpela environment i klostu moa long wanpela tru restaurant winim classroom exercise.
Ol public tu i bungim college i no olsem wanpela closed technical institution tasol, tasol olsem wanpela hap bilong social life bilong Lae. Ol Fraide lunch i soim long wanpela amamas pasin tru philosophy bilong technical education: man i kisim competence taim em i mekim tru wok bilong tru manmeri.
Religious life tu i stap olsem wanpela hap bilong campus culture. Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship, o TSCF, i wok long LTC inap planti yia, na sampela taim ol Kristen lecturer i sapotim. Movement i stat long Papua Niugini long 1967 bihain long ol connection wantaim Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students, na i joinim International Fellowship of Evangelical Students long 1979.
TSCF em principally wanpela student-led movement na i bungim fellowship, Bible study, evangelism na leadership development.
Ol memory bilong LTC community i tok tu long wanpela visit bilong British Anglican theologian na evangelical leader John Stott long 1980s. Mi no painim yet documentary evidence bilong dispela particular visit, olsem na long nau yumi mas lukim olsem oral testimony. Tasol dispela i stret wantaim strong international connection bilong Stott wantaim IFES na evangelical student movement.
Sapos yumi inap confirmim, importance bilong dispela visit i no stap tumas long fame bilong Stott, tasol long wanem em i soim: college i stap insait long network i go longwe tru winim Lae.
Gender composition bilong college i complex moa winim wanem sampela manmeri inap ting. Advanced technical certificate program klostu long 1980 i gat planti moa man winim meri. Sampela taim i gat tupela o tripela meri tasol namel long moa long wan handret man. Tasol PETT i narapela tru. Long sampela semester namel long 1979 na 1982, ol meri i makim klostu hap bilong intake, na sampela taim ol i winim namba bilong man. Long wanpela available semester long 1982, PETT i enrollim 104 man na 115 meri.
Yumi mas careful long interpretim ol dispela figure. Ol i no tokim yumi wanem particular PETT course ol meri i kisim. Yumi no ken ting nating olsem planti meri i stap tasol long traditional “women’s occupations,” na yumi no ken ting tu olsem planti tru i go pinis long mechanical na electrical trades. Tasol ol figure i proveim olsem ol meri i visible moa long college winim simple picture bilong wanpela all-male technical institution.
Ol individual career i strongim dispela poin. Barbara Takai i study business wantaim accounting major long LTC long 1980s na bihain i gat wanpela longpela career long finance na aviation administration. Delilah Gore, husat bihain i kamap member of parliament na cabinet minister, i study finance tu long college paslain long em i go long administration na auditing. Experience bilong tupela i soim breadth bilong institution: technical education long Lae i karamapim commerce na business wantaim engineering na trade.
Ol arapela graduate i go insait long public administration, business na political leadership. James Gau, husat bihain i kamap Governor bilong Madang Province, i study long LTC na mekim wok olsem civil-engineering technical officer wantaim Department of Works. Benny Allan, husat bihain tu i kamap parliamentarian na minister, i attendim college paslain long teacher education. Ol dispela career i soim olsem technical qualification i no makim olgeta future wok bilong wanpela graduate.
Em inap kamap wanpela platform bilong moa learning, management na leadership.
Dispela em wanpela dimension bilong technical education olsem social mobility. Long planti student, kam long Lae i minim lusim ples o provincial community na go insait long urban institution, na bihain long salaried employment. Qualification inap senisim expectation bilong family, income, status na identity. Tasol dispela process tu i helpim urban migration na sampela taim i mekim daily connection wantaim kastom community i kamap slek.
College i stap insait long bikpela senis bilong Papua Niugini, long wanpela society em local na rural relationship i organiseim planti hap bilong laip, i go long wanpela society we movement namel long ples, taun, institution na formal employment i wok long kamap moa bikpela.
Long national technical college i go long Polytechnic
Long 1980s, Lae Technical College i kamap tru wanpela national institution. Em i givim mechanical, electrical na civil engineering; building na architectural studies; commerce; laboratory work; hospitality; na trade education. Em i supplyim personnel long gavman agency na ol bikpela industry, na i stap insait tu long regulation bilong technical standard. Wanpela National Gazette bilong 1975, eksampel, i kolim college olsem examination centre bilong electricians’ licensing.
Olsem na LTC i contribute i no long education tasol, tasol long system we technical competence i kisim assessment na official recognition.
College i go insait moa long regional network tu. Long Mas 1979, em i hostim namba wan in-country program bilong Papua Niugini em Colombo Plan Staff College for Technician Education i pas wantaim. Program i focus long measurement na evaluation. Narapela staff-development program i kamap bihain long dispela yia. Ol dispela initiative i putim Lae insait long Asia-Pacific discussion long technical curriculum, assessment na lecturer development.
Relationship wantaim Papua New Guinea University of Technology i givim Lae wanpela spesel importance long national technological education. Tupela institution i mekim narapela narapela wok em i complementim narapela. Unitech i trainim graduate engineer, architect, surveyor, scientist na technologist, na LTC i focus moa long technician, tradespeople na bihain diploma student. Staff tu inap muv namel long tupela institution, olsem Martin Benson i mekim long namel bilong 1980s.
Tupela wantaim i givim Lae wanpela strongpela concentration bilong technical na technological expertise.
Yumi no ken lukim difference namel long university education na technical education olsem wanpela hierarchy we wanpela knowledge i valuable na narapela i daunbilo. Modern engineering i nidim tupela. Professional engineer inap designim system na holim high-level responsibility, tasol system bai i no wok sapos i no gat technician husat inap readim drawing, painim as bilong problem, maintainim equipment na superviseim work. Bikpela contribution bilong LTC i stap long education bilong dispela indispensable middle layer.
Institutional development i no go gut olgeta taim. Evidence bilong administrative intervention klostu long 1989 i soim olsem LTC i gat sampela period bilong governance na operational difficulty. Ol kain episode olsem i hap bilong histori tu. Technical institution i expensive, i ken kisim hevi sapos specialist staff o equipment i sot, na i stap aninit long rapid change long government finance na labour-market expectation. Success bilong ol i nidim continual renewal.
Maski i olsem, college i go het long move i go long higher-level tertiary education. Stat long 1993, two-year diploma course i stat long replaceim ol old Certificate in Higher Technical Education. Long kirap bilong twenty-first century, UNESCO i describeim LTC olsem wanpela bilong ol leading technical institution bilong Papua Niugini, wantaim program long building, civil, electrical na mechanical engineering, business, tourism na hospitality, pre-employment education na trade extension.
Designation bilong en olsem UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre i connectim institution officially wantaim international network bilong technical na vocational education.
Long 2009, Lae Technical College i kamap officially National Polytechnic Institute of Papua New Guinea. Nupela nem i makim senis wantaim continuation. Liklik technical training centre bilong 1950s i kamap wanpela tertiary institution em i givim qualification i wok long go antap moa. Tasol fundamental task bilong en i stap yet: bungim education wantaim practical competence na technological requirement bilong society.
Olsem wanem yumi ken interpretim dispela histori
Development bilong Lae Technical College yumi inap lukim nau long sampela bikpela period. Paslain long foundation bilong en, technical skill i go long narapela jeneresen long mission workshop, government department, commercial employment na informal workplace learning. Stat long 1953 i go namel bilong 1960s, Lae i developim formal technical school em i bungim general education, trade preparation na apprenticeship.
Namel long 1965 na 1968, expanded facility na senis i go long college status i soim growing emphasis long technician education. Namel long 1969 na Independence, national manpower planning i putim LTC moa na moa insait long coordinated system bilong vocational, technical na higher technological education. Bihain long 1975, localisation na national technical capacity i kamap explicit objective.
Long 1980s na 1990s, LTC i mature olsem post-secondary institution na i move isi isi long diploma education, na dispela i go pinis long Polytechnic era bihain long 2009.
Dispela chronology i soim tu senis bilong tingting long purpose bilong education. Aninit long colonial administration, labour requirement bilong gavman na industry i shapeim technical training strong. Taim Independence i kam klostu, technical education i kamap hap bilong planned economic development. Bihain long Independence, em i kisim national political purpose: transferim technical responsibility i go long Papua Niugini manmeri. Tasol college i bin stap oltaim moa bikpela samting winim wanpela instrument bilong workforce planning.
Ol student i wokim friendship na religious community, lainim pasin bilong stap long wanpela culturally diverse city, sevim public long ol venture olsem Catering School lunch, na yusim qualification bilong ol long ol rot em employment forecast i no inap predictim. Sampela i stap technician; ol arapela i kamap manager, business owner, educator o politician.
Dispela histori i givim warning tu long yumi long no ken ting “vocational” education i intellectually daunbilo long academic education. Technical work i nidim knowledge na judgement. Wanpela technician i mas interpretim evidence, diagnoseim failure, makim wanem samting i bikpela, na applyim general principle long particular circumstance. Ol strongpela lecturer long LTC i bringim dispela kain practical reasoning long industry i kam insait long classroom.
Goal bilong education i no tasol long skulim student long bihainim procedure. Em i bilong equipim ol long respond wantaim save taim procedure tasol i no inap.
Bikpela gap i stap yet long histori em contribution bilong Papua Niugini teaching staff. Ol source i stap online i preserveim ol Australian educator moa isi winim national lecturer, workshop instructor na department head. Dispela em imbalance bilong archive; em i no wanpela stret representation bilong mature college.
Olsem na next stage bilong historical work i mas painim gen ol dispela nem na career long staffing list, graduation program, Education Department file, college publication na oral history.
Conclusion
Lae Technical College i kamap long wanpela ples em extraordinary economic na technological change i bin makim pinis. Paslain long college i stap, Lae region i muv, insait long wanpela sotpela taim tru, long customary village landscape i go long gold-rush aviation hub, wartime base na postwar industrial centre. Technical knowledge i bin kamap longpela taim pinis long mission, government department, aircraft operation, workshop na commercial employment.
Achievement bilong 1950s em long kisim dispela kain learning na putim moa na moa insait long wanpela organised educational framework.
Aninit long Rea Oberg na ol colleague bilong em, nupela technical institution i bungim general education, trade preparation na apprenticeship. Long 1960s em i develop i kamap wanpela college em i focus moa long middle-level technician. Lae Seminar bilong 1969 i putim siti klostu long namel bilong national discussion long manpower, apprenticeship na industrial training.
Independence long 1975 i givim dispela wok wanpela nupela purpose: technical education i kamap wanpela practical rot we Papua Niugini manmeri inap kisim responsibility bilong ol industry na institution bilong ol yet.
Contribution bilong college yumi no inap makim long enrolment table na certificate tasol. Em i stap tu long laip bilong ol student husat i kam long Lae long olgeta hap bilong kantri, stap na wok wantaim ol manmeri bilong narapela narapela community, joinim organisation olsem TSCF, lainim hospitality long Catering School, na karim qualification bilong ol i go long wok i stat long engineering na aviation na i go long administration, business na public life.
Bilong Papua Niugini i kamap wanpela independent nation, em i nidim constitution, political institution, university na national leader. Tasol em i nidim tu ol manmeri husat inap maintainim generator, repairim vehicle, wireim building, prepareim drawing, manageim account, serviceim machinery, superviseim workshop na mekim complex system i go het long wok.
Lae Technical College i skulim ol kain manmeri olsem. Long wanpela practical mining, histori bilong en em histori bilong Papua Niugini manmeri i lainim olsem wanem long mekim ol samting i wok. Dispela tok i stret long engine, electrical system, building, restaurant na business, tasol i stret tu long material infrastructure bilong wanpela independent country.
Taim Lae Technical College i kamap National Polytechnic long 2009, institutional form bilong en i senis. Tasol bikpela vocation bilong en i no senis: bungim knowledge wantaim practical skill, disciplined judgement na service long common life bilong Papua Niugini.
Rev Dr Rod Benson em General Secretary bilong NSW Ecumenical Council na wanpela minister bilong Uniting Church in Australia em i serve long North Rocks Community Church long Sydney. Em i bin stap long Lae taim em i pikinini, stat long 1978 i go 1983.
As bilong piksa: Morobe Tokout-Tokstret Forum
All Told 