A total of twenty-one (21) rural training centres (RTC) in the country will benefit from training equipments worth five hundred thousand dollars for skills development.
The assistance came from the Down Stream Support programme of the ministry of forestry and research.
Solomon Islands Association Vocational Rural Training Centre director Billy Mae received the equipment Tuesday this week.
Permanent secretary (PS) of the ministry of forestry Banabas Anga made the handing over on behalf of the national government.
The equipment included carpentry manual and electrical tools, generators, chainsaws and a Lucas Mill for Afutara vocational centre in Malaita.
It is expected to boost the development of the rural centres to provide efficient learning developments to improve and developed the trainees’ practical skills.
Mr Anga highlighted the ministry is pleased to support RTCs around the country as a result of the ministry’s recognition of RTCs existence as a hub for the rural community to access.
“This is where we can be able to have our young people and the community trained so that they can able to have skills to enhance them to improve their livelihood and contribute to the development of the country.”
The grants support is aimed at providing development capacity for the students and the rural centres to improve practical skills and the performance of the institutions.
SIAVRTC director Billy Mae thanked the ministry for the support provided to the 21 RTCs who are members of SIAVRTC.
“This support is a direct benefit to our centres that contributes to the instructional strengthening of the institutions as this is where our young people are being trained and developed their skills.”
Mr Mae admitted the sector has captured the understanding of the community as a result of the value impact it provides for the community.
“This is proven from the high demand of intake enrolment by the community every year.”
Mr Mae thanked the ministry for the continuous support to the training centres in the country.
He said this was the fourth support they receive since it was introduce by the ministry in 2010 and SIAVRTC valued the contribution as a positive move to the rural sectors.
SIAVRTC has up to 44 fulltime residential members scattered all over the country, the RTCs, VRTCs and 54 community based training centres established all over the country.
Each year graduates is up to 2500 after completing two-years of training and trains up to 13,000 members of the community in the CBTC sector.
SIAVRTC see this as one of the important components of the country human resources.
The benefit out of the incentives offered at the RTC level is for the community to fully utilize their skills for the development of their livelihood and can be able to contribute and participate with the development of the country.
By TRIXIE CARTER
