Female students attending the Tabubil International School and the Tabubil Secondary School were recently given the opportunity to learn about the different trades training provided by Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML).
The students visited OTML’s Dr Jacob Weiss Training Centre on February 15 as part of the International Day for Women and Girls in Science. Their visit was organised by the Ok Tedi Women’s Network and OTML’s Organisational Training and Development Department.
The students consisted of children doing grades 8 to 12.
These students were given a tour of the training centre, the type of trade training available, what is involved in each trade as well as what grade point averages they needed to attain to apply for the OTML apprenticeship training program. The courses they needed to take in secondary schools to allow them to stream into apprentice careers were also discussed during this visit.
They also had the privilege to meet and talk to some of the Company’s apprentices. Other OTML training programs such as the Graduate Development Scheme, and the Preferred Area Development training programs were also covered during the students’ visit.
OWN Chairperson, Beverly Pasen said her association has always observed the day annually with various activities, one of which involves school visits to talk to students, especially girls about what women in the various fields of science do.
“This year we thought it would be more enlightening for the students to visit an actual operational area and see first-hand what women in science fields do, and we found it brought a lot of curious and eager questions from these students,” she said
Ms Pasen said the OWN is looking forward to conducting more of such programs in the future to help young women choose a career in the field of science.
“Also by doing this, OWN can help to grow the pipeline of females who may one day work with OTML or other organisations within PNG and abroad,” she said.
Ok Tedi is an equal opportunity employer and believes a gender-diverse workforce encourages optimum performance and best results for its business.