Honiara will soon benefit from its own Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) campus following the launch of a SBD14 million (A$1.9 million) partnership between APTC and Honiara’s Don Bosco Technical Institute today.
AusAID Director General Mr Peter Baxter joined hundreds of students, staff and community members to launch the partnership.
Mr Baxter said the partnership will give more Solomon Islanders the chance to learn new skills and secure a job.
“Up to 300 students will now have the chance to gain internationally recognised qualifications in automotive repair and construction over the next three years,” Mr Baxter said.
“They will join more than 490 Solomon Islanders who have already graduated from APTC and now have the skills, training and confidence to take advantage of job opportunities, either in Solomon Islands or in the region.”
Mr Baxter said the partnership will fund the enrolment of students and support upgrades to Don Bosco’s facilities.
“I am pleased that we are partnering with Don Bosco – an important institution of teaching, learning and training in Solomon Islands,” Mr Baxter said.
Supporting investments in training and skills development is a key focus of the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership for Development, and for AusAID more widely in the Pacific.
The A$150 million APTC was established in 2007 to increase skilled workers in the Pacific and improve employment opportunities for Pacific Islanders. More than 4950 Pacific Islanders have graduated with new skills from the APTC’s four campuses in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
Solomon Islanders will continue to have access to the APTC’s four other regional campuses and a range of courses including hospitality, engineering and community services.
Press Release, AusAID