THE curriculum for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) subjects has been introduced into the country’s education system and qualified teachers are needed to implement it, Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra says. “We want to train teachers who are competent and specialised in Stem (subjects),” he said. “We are also getting graduates from the University of Technology who have a technical background to teach Stem subjects.” Kombra said the new curriculum was introduced in the schools of excellence last year. “Previously, in the curriculum, the grade 11s and 12s at the national high schools and secondary schools in our general school system had the same curriculum,” he said. “But, as of last year, we have selected students who want to take science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects as a core on their own and around 200 students have decided to take the specialised courses.
“So we’ve taken through the Grade 11 already and this year, they are doing Grade 12. “When they complete (school), we are also working with the measurement service division to have separate examinations for them as well.” Kombra said the department’s intention was to have a regular Grade 12 certificate for the students taking Stem. “But they would also do another special exam for Stem subjects which would allow them to graduate with a diploma. “So they will have two certificates after completing grade 12,” Kombra said. He said his department was negotiating with universities as some of the courses were advanced and equivalent to foundation courses. “If they complete the course work in Grade 12 and can get a number of credit points, they can skip a whole year of the foundation and can go straight to year one,” he said. “We are also in the process of doing a NEC (National Executive Council) submission with a draft bill on scholarships for these students. “So those who do very well at Grade 12, the top five per cent, the policy will be to identify those students and the Government will sponsor them to universities in Papua New Guinea or overseas.” The National / PNG Education News Next : PM Marape Wants Teachers To Be Paid On Qualification Comments are closed.
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