The Programme was officially launched by the Minister for Education Hon. Nick Kuman on the 14th of April 2016 at the Gateway Hotel, Port Moresby in the presence of the European Union Ambassador, H.E. Ioannis Giogkarakis-Argyropoulos and the Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, Hon. Charles Abel.

A skilled labour force adapted to the needs of the country is essential for the development of Papua New Guinea. HRDP2 will focus in particular on six provinces, where there is a relatively developed labour market and where the prospects of meeting the demands for labour are particularly favourable, once the students have acquired skills through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system. Ten lower vocational education institutions will directly benefit from the programme within the six provinces namely East New Britain; East Sepik; Eastern Highlands; Enga; Morobe and the National Capital District.

HRDP2 is planned to achieve the following results:

• Improved access to more students, through the construction of new buildings in the ten institutions, including classrooms, workshops, dormitories, teacher houses and administrative blocks.
• Improved quality of education in the ten institutions through the provision of tools and equipment for the teaching of 9 selected trade areas, most of which are being supported in more than one institution. Quality of education will be more widely and further enhanced through up-grading of the qualifications of 250 teachers and work experience attachment to a local business/industry for 600 students and 200 teachers.
• Improved management of the TVET system through policy review, better cooperation and communication between the Department of Education national and provincial levels, increased involvement of the business community, and training for 120 mid-level vocational education managers.

See Joint Press Release