Amidst severe floods and recent earthquake tremors, educational activities in 86 schools across East Sepik’s Ambunti, Wosera-Gawi, and Angoram have been abruptly halted. Thousands of students, currently enjoying their first-term break, face an uncertain future as authorities await the receding of floodwaters and evaluate the extent of damage caused. Timothy Yavu, the East Sepik education executive manager, revealed that a team from the education division conducted assessments in the affected areas, encompassing elementary and primary schools. Fortunately, high schools and secondary schools situated on higher ground remain unaffected. Members of the Papua New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) will have to wait an extra two weeks to choose their new national leaders. Originally, the election process was supposed to start this Friday, but the current General Secretary of PNGTA is in the hospital. So, Acting National General Secretary Kingston Alu said the election will start later. PNG PM Marape Touts Educational Advancements Under Pangu Pati, Counters Opposition Criticism3/29/2024
PNG Prime Minister James Marape has defended his administration's record on education, citing significant strides made since 2019 under the leadership of the Pangu Pati. Marape highlighted key initiatives such as the Higher Education Loan Programme (Help), Flexible Open Distance Education (Fode), Second Chance Education, and the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) programs as pivotal in advancing the nation's educational landscape. Responding to recent criticism from Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa regarding the government's commitment to education, Prime Minister Marape emphasized the transformative impact of initiatives spearheaded by the late Education Minister Jimmy Uguro and Higher Education Minister Don Polye. Marape hailed the Help initiative for benefiting over 35,000 students and exceeding an investment of K177 million by December 31, 2023. GUMINE MP Lucas Dekena has been appointed Education Minister to replace the late Jimmy Uguro, while Bogia MP Robert Naguri is the new Energy Minister to replace Kerenga Kua who resigned in January. Both transitions come as part of the ongoing reshuffle within the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Cabinet.
In a ceremony held at Government House yesterday, both Dekena and Naguri were sworn in by Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae. Their appointments were hailed by Prime Minister James Marape, who emphasized their educational backgrounds and qualifications for their respective roles. “I am privileged to witness two fine MPs being drafted into Cabinet to fill the vacancies,” stated Prime Minister Marape. Gary Juffa, the Governor of Northern Province, PNG, has assured students, staff, and parents of Embogo High School that immediate action will be taken to address the deteriorating condition of their facilities. During a recent visit to the school, Governor Juffa pledged to swiftly respond to concerns raised by parents and citizens, emphasizing the provincial government's commitment to addressing educational infrastructure needs. Morobe Province concluded its Teaching Service Commission (TSC) positions validation workshop on Friday, signaling a potential increase in the provincial education budget allocated for teachers' salaries.
The need for a budget increase became evident during the two-week validation process, during which Morobe Province, with over 8,000 teaching positions, identified more than 2,000 vacancies. Following the validation, a total of 936 vacant positions were officially established within the province. In the hallowed halls of Divine Word University, amidst the aura of accomplishment and dreams fulfilled, Cliff Kiru stood tall, a testament to the power of resilience and determination. At the age of forty-nine, he defied all odds to achieve what once seemed impossible – a doctorate in philosophy.
Born in Poroma, Southern Highlands, Kiru's journey was marked by challenges from the very beginning. A Grade 10 dropout in 1990, his path seemed uncertain, overshadowed by the weight of missed opportunities. Yet, he refused to let circumstances dictate his destiny. Amidst financial struggles, familial responsibilities, and the relentless trials brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kiru pressed on. The sacrifice of leaving his beloved wife and four children behind for nearly six years was a testament to his unwavering commitment to education and self-improvement. In a move to bolster the learning experience for students, Kimbe Teachers College in West New Britain has inaugurated a new lecture room. Principal Ismael Leka revealed that the construction of the lecture room, costing K47,000, was made possible through a K300,000 grant from the provincial government, allocated last year.
The newly opened facility is designed to accommodate the current student population and foster a conducive learning environment. Principal Leka expressed plans for further enhancements, utilizing the remaining funds to reorganize existing spaces and create four lecture rooms, acknowledging that these developments would take some time. ST Therese Catholic Primary School Grade Eight students are set to enjoy a more comfortable learning experience with the generous donation of 60 new desks and chairs from the International Training Institute (ITI).
The school's Head Teacher, Patricia Avire, expressed her joy as the new furniture will replace the floor seating that 10 students in each grade had been enduring since the beginning of the academic year. Avire highlighted that the Grade Eight students, who had been sitting on the floor, would now have the privilege of using the new desks and chairs for their upcoming mock exams. The donation from ITI is a significant step towards improving the learning environment at the school, which was established in 1928 and has faced challenges due to deteriorating buildings. Avire emphasized that the school's learning improvement plan had prioritized the acquisition of desks and chairs. In some rural primary schools within Morobe, Papua New Guinea, educators relying on digital versions of teachers' guides and syllabi are encountering significant difficulties, as reported by a local head teacher. The issue appears to be more pronounced for those lacking the essential equipment needed to access these instructional materials.
Siing Goping, the head teacher of Wana Primary School in Nawaeb’s Wain-Erap, acknowledged that while the use of digital resources is manageable for junior primary school levels, senior primary school educators in rural areas are grappling with the absence of laptops, desktop computers, and other necessary devices. |
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