National Training Council

The Prime Minister today announced that the National Executive Council has approved and endorsed the Papua New Guinea National Training Policy 2022 – 2032 for implementation including approval funding from the National Budget to execute its implementation over the next ten years.

The Policy replaces the previous 1989 policy and represents the first major and update of training in 33years. In the meantime, PNG has experienced rapid economic development and social change. It is vital that PNG develops a coherent national human resource development strategy in accordance with this growth and inline with PNG’s other national development strategies.

The Prime Minister said training and skills development can trigger both formal and self-employment if it is properly regulated through this policy. Oftentimes, mismatched or unregulated training and development contributes immensely to high unemployment. So, this policy is seen to appreciate the recently approved National Employment Policy 2022-2032.

The aim of the Policy is to provide a policy framework for the development of training policy within PNG for the next 10 years that will ensure a better functioning, client-focused training sector.

He reiterated that PNG is currently faced with skills shortages across many sectors of the economy. And these areas in many instances are filled by external experts at higher cost.

The policy also addresses informal sector participants and ensures their transition to the formal sector a systematic and coordinated process with assistance from the relevant stakeholders.

The Government has done so much in terms of providing various scholarships programs to its citizens, offered public training institutions and recognized private training as well. However, this is done without a proper updated policy in place.

Today marks a new chapter where a policy to regulate training for the next ten years is approved. The policy calls for collaboration amongst all relevant stakeholders; donors, training institutions and others to work together to be involved in training PNG citizens.

The Prime Minister further urges the Public and Private Sector Organizations including Civil Society Organizations involved in training and development to participate and contribute meaningfully in the implementation of this National Training Policy 2022-2032.

The policy is also operational in focus and sets out a range of Guiding Training Principles that should be applied by all employers in PNG to ensure that effective training is implemented to support PNG’s growing economy.

The NTC will work with other agencies and organizations to develop and implement effective strategies and action plans in relation to each of these policy priorities over the next 10 years