Students of Pacific Polytech now have work attachment opportunities with the Public Rental Board (PRB) following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions.
Pacific Polytech founding director Peni Taoi said the MoU was a significant step forward for the institution’s “classroom to the workplace” newly-adopted strategy.
“I’m so happy we’re able to come up with these strategies so we can actually assist students who are unemployed to come into the field of whatever programs that they are interested in,” Mr Taoi said.
“Here, I think the interest is on construction, various trade or skill within the construction industry. I think part of the agreement is the institution (take in) employees already working. Some of them may need programs that will allow them to move up maybe to Certificate 3 or 4, so we now have that.”
PRB general manager Timoci Naleba said PRB was not into construction but have projects that required skilled manpower.
“We normally make sure we have a building that can be rented out to people with very low income. However, because of the rate in which we are going, and we don’t have enough building, that’s where PRB is working towards, to construct affordable homes as well,” Mr Naleba said.
“We have a shortage of skilled workers in Fiji, most of them have gone overseas. So, because of that problem, we have to look elsewhere.
“We know students are still learning but we have a program in place whereby they can be coached and ensure the quality standards are not sacrificed in that regard.”
The MoU contract is for five years and allow 20 students a cohort to receive work internship at any PRB sites.
