![]() THE Balimo Teachers College in Western, Papua New Guinea has welcomed the first intake of 40 students for its primary teacher training programme. The teachers college, a first for Western, is a Papua New Guinea sustainable development programme (SDP) education initiative, managed by the Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) with technical support from Western Sydney University. The college started operations in 2019, with a flexible open and distance education (Fode) programme aimed at addressing the high student drop-out rate in the province. Fode enrolments increased each year from 105 to 210 and 316.
In February, 40 students, including Fode students, have become the first cohort to study for their diploma in primary teaching. One of the trainees is Helen Mowagi, from Kaniya village, Western, a six-hour dinghy ride from Balimo. Mowagi is now one step closer to becoming a teacher. After seeing the shortage of teachers and overcrowding of classes in Kaniya, Mowagi wanted to become part of the solution. Her commitment to education was such that in 2019, she gave birth on the weekend and sat for her grade 10 Fode examinations on Monday. Mowagi was able to study due to the flexibility accorded by the Balimo College Fode programme, which provided the time, resources and teaching support. This enabled her to study diligently while juggling home life with four children aged between two and 13. She sat for her grade 12 national examinations at the end of last year and scored a GPA of 2.8 that earned her a place at the Balimo College this year. Mowagi embraced her first day at the college, saying: “I would like to teach in my province. “It’s the first of its kind for us to have a teachers’ college in Balimo. “It is really exciting for me and my family is very happy that I am going into the new teachers’ college and they are supporting me.” Mowagi is an example of how SDP’s education programme is addressing poor access to education in Western by offering a pathway to secondary and tertiary studies for aspiring teachers. KTF chief executive officer Dr Genevieve Nelson is delighted over their partnership with SDP. “Balimo College is a vital link,” Nelson said. The National / PNG Education News Next : Planning & Monitoring Department Plans To Improve Infrastructure In Top Performing Schools In PNG Comments are closed.
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