Eighteen Papua New Guineans made up of teachers, lecturers, standard officers and provincial education heads are currently in England to undergo a two weeks intensive in-service training in education,at the Oxford University, starting on Monday.
The historic mission to Britain's Oxford University is part of the Oxford-Goroka Initiative, an ambitious plan by the two universities to transform and raise the standard and quality of teacher education in Papua New Guinea, focusing in Mathematics, Sciences and Language literature. The team of 5 females and 13 males consists of 6 lecturers from the University of Goroka, 3 Principals from Primary Teachers Colleges, a Standard Officer and 4 secondary school teachers from West New Britain and 4 personals from the East Sepik Provincial Division of Education. Vice Chancellor of the University of Goroka, Dr Gairo Onagi, said the visit to the Oxford University by the 18 participants is a historic occasion for education in Papua New Guinea. He said it marks the first formal exchange between Oxford University and any university in PNG, and the fact that the University of Goroka is at the forefront of this exchange gives him immense pride. During a brief with the team at the Ela Beach Hotel on Friday, Dr Onagi told them to be good ambassadors of PNG education and learn as much as they can to bring back and assist in the area of education back in PNG. He said the Oxford-Goroka Initiative would lead to more collaboration in future. Team leader and UOG’s Executive Dean of the School of Education, Dr Kapa Kelep Malpo, said the team make-up, illustrates the importance of partnership in education between teacher trainers, provincial education officers, standard officers and teachers in PNG. She said partnership in education is very much needed to collaboratively support and improve schools in Papua New Guinea. “The classroom is the engine room where brains are developed so teachers need to be supported from every angle in order to bring about the best lessons because a nations capacity building begins in the classroom therefore education is everyone business,” she highlighted. Meanwhile, UOG Chancellor, Mr Ben Sabumei (MBE) said he is proud to see UOG engage with Oxford University, as it is one of the world’s most reputable and oldest universities in the world and the exchange program would continue on next year. Mr Sabumei said the program also includes sending 2 lecturers to further their Masters in Education in September this year (2014) and an announcement will shortly be made in establishing a scholarship fund for sending more Papua New Guineans to Oxford University. Comments are closed.
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