Nakilaena RTC wants students from all over Vanuatu

Nakilaena Rural Training Center (RTC) on Epi plans to take in 50 students this year for skills training in general mechanic, building construction and carpentry, agriculture and home care.

RTC Manager William Neamaiah, says the school is particularly targeting Years 6, 7, 8, and 9 students who have been pushed out of the formal education system of the country and are back in the villages of their communities as well as members of the special needs community.

“Children who are out of formal education and doing nothing in the villages are part of the lost economy and if we can train them they will become productive people,” he said.

This year Nakilaena RTC has four teachers – one each for the skills areas being taught by the center. Last year the rural training center had 25 students doing the two-year program and this year the students will be on skills attachments – some in Port Vila and some on Epi. At the end of the year the students will be certified by the training center. The students come from as far as Ambrym, Epi, Port Vila and Emae.

Center Manager Neamaiah says Nakilaena RTC provides accommodation at the school for students and this year it wishes to take in students from more islands and it plans to one day have an intake that comes from all over the whole of Vanuatu.

“Parents wishing to send children who are at home doing nothing after they can’t go any further in the formal education system due to reasons of school fees or whatever can apply to this school to learn skills that will enable them to catch up with the standard of living today and to assist their communities. They can contact me on cellphone # 5900857 and # 7108590 for more information,” he said.

He says students who come out of the rurals training center “are very good and very production” and they can do something with the skills training they have acquired.

Nakilaena Rural Training center was opened in 2006, but collapsed in 2011/12, and was reopened in 2014.