Lae, Papua New Guinea – Dr. Kaul Gena, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Administration at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech), has raised concerns over the increasing number of Grade 12 graduates and the static capacity of higher learning institutions in the country. Speaking at the Datec Learning Centre's 13th graduation ceremony last Friday, Dr. Gena highlighted the growing demand for tertiary education amidst limited opportunities.
"Every year, the number of Grade 12 students passing out of secondary schools and schools of excellence changes, but there’s no increase in the capacity of higher learning institutions to cater for them," Dr. Gena remarked.
The statistics illustrate a significant rise in the number of students completing their secondary education and sitting for national examinations. In 2019, 27,143 students sat for the exams, which increased to 31,252 by last year. Despite this increase, the number of available spots in higher education institutions has not kept pace.
"In 2019, we had 27,143 Grade 12s, and the number increased to about 30,000 in 2020, 32,000 in 2021, and 31,252 last year," Dr. Gena explained. "About 10,312 students were not selected in 2022."
The number of students selected for higher education has seen only a marginal increase, from about 9,000 in 2019 to approximately 10,000 in 2023. This leaves a significant number of graduates without access to tertiary education, many of whom turn to private institutions or enter the workforce directly.
"The balance of 30,700 in 2021 and 21,241 in 2023, most are enrolled in private institutions and are working in the private sector," Dr. Gena noted. He emphasized the critical need for the Government to extend the higher education loan programme scholarship scheme to students enrolling in private training institutions like Datec, to support those left out of the public system.
At the Datec Learning Centre graduation, a total of 164 students received their diplomas. Since its partnership with Unitech began in 2010, Datec has graduated around 1,200 students. Datec’s general manager, Ravi Ravichandran, highlighted the centre’s success in job placement, stating, "We have a record of 70 percent job opportunities for our students."
Ravichandran also emphasized Datec's role in building capacity by offering skills in high demand, such as project management, data analysis, and cyber security.
As the number of Grade 12 graduates continues to rise, the need for expanded higher education opportunities becomes increasingly urgent, calling for immediate action from the Government to address this critical issue.
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