MANY teachers posted to rural schools in Southern Highlands do not take up their posts, resulting in three to four teachers taking charge of classes as big as 60 students.
Daniel Mapun, a teacher at Muluma Primary School in the Bosave LLG, Nipa-Kutubu district, said a few teachers were teaching nearly 1,000 students from Grades 3-8. Adding to the problem of work pressure, store goods sold in the area cost three times the price at Mendi supermarkets. Nipa-Kutubu MP Jeffery Komal said an investigation would be held. A community in Nongul, has offered its land for the establishment of a new primary teacher’s college.
The Jiwaka Teacher’s College has taken its first batch of students this year, for 3 years diploma in Primary Teaching. The school was recently opened by officials from the Jiwaka Provincial government. Nongul sits on the border of Jiwaka, and Simbu provinces. This part of Jiwaka in North Waghi District, has always been the least developed, with little government services reaching the people. It was a community dream to establish this teacher’s college, not only to create education opportunities, but with the aim of grasping government attention. The community here has made available 4 hectares of land, for the establishment of this school. Although not registered yet, the school, with only one classroom, and an incomplete administration building, has opened its doors for student enrolment. The community has used their resources, and money to put up these buildings, and two houses for lecturers. Four lecturers have been engaged by the community, of which 2 are on government payroll, while the other 2 are retired teachers. A ceremony last week marked the opening of the school, with visitors from Jiwaka Provincial Government, including deputy provincial administrator, Joseph Karap. Government support from both provincial, and national government, was the general concern shared by those at the ceremony. The first 80 students have now gone into their first week of the 1st trimester, learning foundation subjects. This school does not have a principal, and will run under a different structure, with a coordinator as the head of the institution. Paul Siwi, the founder of the school, says negotiations with the Officer of Higher Education to register the school, is underway. THREE citizens have been awarded the 2014 Japanese government scholarship to pursue degree programmes in Japan.
They were given their tickets at the Japan Ryugakusei Association annual reception hosted by the Embassy of Japan in Port Moresby yesterday. Charge d’ Affairs Satoshi Abe said the three would be doing their Masters degree in geology, public policy and strategic management, and specialised training in civil engineering in Japan. Francis Wargirai will enrol at the Graduate school of social and cultural Ssciences at Kumamoto University. Thomas Sorulen will join the graduate school of engineering and resource science at the Akita University for two years. Wilson Tengen will undertake a specialised training programme in civil engineering for two years at Shusei Construction Senmon-Gakko after his preparatory Japanese education for one year. “The Embassy of Japan would like to enhance JARA’s activities to further strengthen the good relationship between PNG and Japan,” Abe said. Dr Alphonse Hayabe, president of JARA, thanked the Japan government for providing scholarships to PNG students to study their language, culture and education system. He urged the three to be good ambassadors for PNG. ![]() The Education sector today took part in witnessing the handover of the Education Minister’s office at the Papua New Guinea Education Institute. Outgoing Minister James Marape welcomed the new Minister for Education and Member for Gumini, Nick Kuman, in a small ceremony witnessed by senior officers and staff of the Education department, teachers, students and the media. Minister Marape gave his final speech today as the acting Minister for Education, before giving over the office to the new Minister for Education Nick Kuman. He acknowledged the appointment of the New Minister saying that the O’Niell Dion Government have done well in choosing an experienced politician who will take the department to a new level. Marape added that the department had come a long way and has, and still is contributing to the nation. He thanked development partners and stakeholders for their support in his time as the Education Minister, and urged everyone to work together. The new Education Minister acknowledged Minister Marape and his efforts as the acting Education Minister and says he will further these by placing more efforts to go hand in hand with the level of resources, timely and scheduled implementation, reporting and accountability. He also added that continued efforts will be put into planning and ensuring that elementary and primary schools are established at each wards and districts, and secondary and vocational schools are established at each district. The community college concept will replace the current vocational centers, one technical and business college at each province and one national polytechnic at each region providing links to University education. EMTV Teachers in the Momase Region are calling on the government, to abolish the PNG Teachers Association.
The teachers have accused the union of doing so little in fighting for their welfare, and deducting thousands from their fortnightly salaries, to maintain themselves in Office. This was the main concern presented to the Parliamentary Referral Committee Education in Lae, and Madang. The meetings were held at the Balob Teachers College in Lae, and Tusbab Secondary School in Madang. The investigation committee heard similar complaints from teachers from the Momase Region. They demanded better remuneration packages, for that will also benefit their children and spouses. They also raised concerns that the free education policy had added more problems to school administrations and teachers, in terms of workload for teachers, lack of classroom space, and school materials for each student amongst others. The main concern was the abolishment of the PNG Teachers Association. The teachers accused the union of not doing its job, and fighting for better remuneration packages, and other benefits. The union’s office is maintained by fortnightly deductions from each teacher’s salary. The committee told the teachers that, national government has allocated K1.5 billion in the education sector this year. They said it is important that teachers air their concerns so that all of those in the education sector, including teachers’ welfare, are catered for.The investigation team has the New Guinea Islands, and Southern region, to cover now. Teachers in the NGI Region, will meet the committee in Kokopo, on the 27th of March, and those in the Southern Region, will meet in Port Moresby on the 31st of March. Committee members present were Chairman of the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Education, and Wabag Open MP, Robert Sandan Ganim, and Eastern Highlands Governor, Julie Soso. Mr. Ganim committed K10 thousand to the college, and another K10 thousand to students from his electorate, while Governor Soso, presented K1 thousand to students who hailed from her province. The committee was commissioned by the Speaker of Parliament, Theo Zurenuoc in January. A detailed report on the teachers’ issues will be furnished after this tour, and will be presented to Parliament in the May sitting. EMTV/ PNG Education News TWENTY-THREE year-old Patrick Avai, from Gulf, took to the air in his first solo flight as he gets closer to his childhood dream of becoming a pilot.
Patrick had only 20 hours total flight-time when he was approved to fly solo in a Cessna 150, last Tuesday. He is the third PNG student under Paradise International Education Consultancy (PIEC), to complete a Student Pilot Licence. His father once dreamed of becoming a pilot but never had the chance to fulfill it. That made the young Avai even more determined to become the pilot that his father had once dreamed of. “They say, to become a pilot, you must be a chemistry, physics, biology, maths A-student. I am not an A-student. I don’t know anything, all I know is computer and boxing,” Patrick said, while recalling how he felt dumb in his previous studies. He added that his disinterest in going to school when he was in primary and secondary schools often had him not making pass marks and friends constantly made fun of him. Awaken by his belief that God has set purpose for him, he went the distance and completed Grade 12 in Port Moresby Grammar School in 2010 and attained a diploma at the Institute of Business Studies in 2013. But his dream of becoming a pilot went on. Last December, Avai enrolled at the Commercial Pilot License Training at Aeronavigation Academy International (AAI) in Bacolod City, Philippines. Keen to turn his dream into a reality, he is bound to further his extensive pilot training in the US and apply for Type Rating for Boeing 767. “To those students, especially the ones who feel they are up to nothing but have that one great dream, keep on hanging on and never surrender. Turn to God and he will answer all your prayers and help you make your dreams come true,” Avai said to encourage other students. The national KIKORI Secondary School, in Gulf ,will stage a Plant-for-the-Planet Academy in collaboration with Plant-for-the-Planet Foundation of Munich, Germany, on June 5 to coincide with the World Environment Day.
The one day event will give children the opportunity to learn important facts about the causes and effects of the climate crises and become educated as climate justice ambassadors as members of a worldwide network of committed children. Already more than 12,000 children have been empowered to become climate justice ambassadors since its inception in 2007. In addition, the Plant-for-the-Planet Academies are recognised as an official project of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development – an educational concept that imparts sustainable thoughts and actions to children and adults. The lead moderator will be Pavel Mella of Plant-for-the-Planet Foundation, with from Osbourne Terry from the school’s social science department helping. The participation at the academies is free for all children. Terry is calling on sponsors from locally-based business houses or public entities. THE focus of teacher professional learning should be on improving teachers’ teaching effectiveness and students academic outcomes.
That was stressed last week to teachers from Hiri rural local level government at the opening of the “Action Research” workshop in the National Capital District. Action Research is a of practitioner site-based professional learning model developed by NRI in partnership with ExxonMobil PNG Ltd focusing on improving the quality of teaching and student achievement in schools at the impacted communities. Workshop Facilitator Arnold Kukari, from National Research Institute, told the teachers that if teacher quality was to improve, ongoing professional learning for teachers has to be provided to contribute to the improvement of teachers’ quality. “Action Research would empower and enable teachers to engage in a process of critical reflection of their teaching and using research evidence to continuously improve their teaching,” Kukari said. “A number of teacher professional development models have been used in PNG. These included expert – novice; cascade or train-the-trainer; self-directed professional learning; workshops; and school or cluster-based models. He said research had shown that the first four models were in most cases ineffective in improving teachers’ teaching effectiveness and teacher professional learning using these models did not have a multiplier effect. “Site-based models, where participants take control and ownership of their own learning, are proven to be more effective in making sustained changes to teachers’ teaching beliefs, behaviour, and practices,” Kukari said. “Professional learning is successful when teachers focus on: improving student achievement; commit to seeking long term change; receive continued support from principals and other stakeholders; learn new knowledge and skills that builds on their existing competencies; use an evidence-based enquiry model, and use critical reflection,” he said. The national OVERCROWDING in classrooms at Wardstrip Primary School, in Port Moresby, should not be an issue following the opening of three new double complex classrooms last week.
Wardstrip Primary School board of management deputy chairman, Silvenus Vaso said managing a big primary school, with an enrolment of 2,900 students from Grades 3-8 and teaching staff of 54 and 10 ancillary staff, is a mammoth task for the head teacher, the school administration and the board of management. “Wardstrip, in the past, had rundown classrooms, walls infested with termites, rotten floors, broken louver blades, broken toilet pots, leaking water pipes, leaking roofs, electrical problems and hosts of other problems but has dramatically improved its image and infrastructure,” he said. “In 2012, the school board applied through the Department of Education for funding to build new double classrooms and carry out major renovations to existing rundown classrooms to solve the problem of overcrowding in classrooms.” He acknowledge the department for approving the proposal for funding of K1.9 million however only K1 million was released to complete the projects. School board treasurer, Mathew Kulimbao said the Department of Education, through the education infrastructure sector programme (EISP), funded a double storey classroom containing three classrooms at the top and three classrooms at the bottom that includes three teachers’ officers at the top and three at the bottom constructed by the Wap and Co Builders. Kulimbao said out of the K1 million, a mobilisation fee of K200,000 each was paid to Wap and Co Builders and Nation Builders Construction while the remaining K600,000 was paid to Gateway Kepatok PNG Ltd for general classroom maintenance and renovations. “Wap and Co Builders built another double classroom with two classrooms at the top and two at the bottom inclusive of offices while Nation Builders built another double classroom with two at the top and two at the bottom with two office spaces built within.” Kulimbao said the remaining K900,000 is yet to be paid by the government and once paid, the board would use the money to settle the outstanding debts for the two building companies. The Australian Prime Minister visited Caritas Girls Technical School in Port Moresby.
He was there to open several Incentive fund projects under the Australian Government’s aid program. The projects are worth up to AUS$2million. Abbott was accompanied by Finance Minister James Marape. His welcome a traditional one The girl’s technical college successfully secured funds from the incentive fund. Mr Abbott said $100 million is invested for education in PNG every year by the Australian Government. Projects included 6 accommodation units for teachers, Accommodation for borders, 6 new classrooms and a new library. Mr Abbott acknowledged the work of the Churches, in providing assistance, especially in rural areas. The school stands on the belief that educating girls has a more profound and rippling effect on society as a whole. Mr Abbott shared a quote from a powerful women –Hilary Clinton. Finance Minister James Marape On behalf thanked the Australian government on behalf of the PNG Government. Mr Abbott mixed and mingled well with the students. He even went out of his way to shake hands, with a student that enthusiastically called out from the sidelines. EMTV |
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