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K5million for Waigani Christian College to facilitate Early Childhood Teacher Training

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The Minister for Education and Member for Gumine, Dawa Lukas Dekena, recently made a significant announcement declaring Waigani Christian Academy as an institution to facilitate teacher training for Early Childhood Learning.

He said this declaration highlights the government’s commitment to improving the education sector, particularly in the training and development of early childhood educators.

With this new status, the academy will be able to offer specialized courses and programs tailored to equip aspiring teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively educate and shape the future generation.

WCA Founder Benjamin Mul, pointed out that this move by Minister Dekena is a significant step towards enhancing the standard of early childhood education in the country and ensuring that every child receives a solid foundation for their academic journey.

The Minister’s commitment to allocate five million kina towards ensuring that early childhood teachers are adequately trained before being sent out for their mission is a crucial step towards improving the quality of education for young children in the country.

“This investment will not only benefit the teachers by equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge, but it will also have a positive impact on the development and well-being of the children they will be teaching.

“Properly trained early childhood teachers play a vital role in shaping the early years of a child’s education and setting a strong foundation for their future learning,” Dekena said.

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Government commits to relieve financial burdens off parents at private schools

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Prime Minister James Marape announced that his government will be looking at relieving some financial loads of parents who send their children to private schools.

During a speech at the Waigani Christian College recently, Marape said they should have a scheme come next year 2025.

Marape expressed his gratitude to all the parents who have always prioritized their children’s education by enrolling them in privately owned educational institutions.

He acknowledged the sacrifices that parents make in order to provide for their children with a better education and promised to support them in their efforts.

The PM said the government will be implementing a scheme to provide assistance to those families who send their children to private schools, as they often have higher fees compared to public schools.

He emphasized that the government’s goal is to ensure that all children in Papua New Guinea have access to quality education, regardless of whether they attend public or private schools.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that the government will be reviewing their policies and budget allocations in order to make this plan a reality by the year 2025.

He assured the parents that the taxes they pay will be utilized to support their children’s education.

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World Coconut Day

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World Coconut Day was held from the 3rd to the 5th of October at the Sir John Guise Indoor complex in Port Moresby.

It was hosted by Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK), the regulatory body of the Coconut Industy in PNG. World Coconut Day is an event of the International Coconut Community made up of coconut growing countries.  

There are 21 coconut growing countries globally and each take turn to host World Coconut Day annually.  

PNG played host to this year’s festival with guests from member countries invited to participate and interact with stakeholders especially small to medium enterprises who showcased their products at this event.

World Coconut Day - Gwen Jerome
Gwen Jerome, Owner of North Coast Farmers


Among the SMEs was North Coast Farmers from Milne Bay Province.

Owner Gwen Jerome has a coconut plantation and has been in business two years running.  

Gwen began producing coconut products after being introduced to the idea by KIK.  

“I own a plantation. I started without funds because these are downstream products. I sell then branched out, I spend to make money.  I make products such as coconut milk ice cream, soaps, oils and essence.”
 
Another passionate producer of coconut products is 55-year-old Josephine Kinoli from Manus Province.  

She started her business in 2002 buying coconut oils in bulk from village women then repackaging and reprocessing for sale.  

Like Gwen, Josphine’s company, Manus Coconut Product and Services is a booming business, specializing in 14 various product lines of skin care and hair products.

World Coconut Day - Josephine Kinoli
Josephine Kinoli, Manus

She has also diversified the business to include other plant products such as Tumeric, Noni and Moringa.  

Back in the 90s, Josephine worked at the Kulili Plantation on Karkar Island in Madang.

At the end of her stint, she returned home to Manus in 2000 and decided to put her knowledge to good use.

By 2005 she generated enough funds to purchase land, build a home and have a place to produce coconut products.  

In diversifying her business, she praised God for the wisdom and blessings that has helped her develop the ideas for her ventures.  

On marketing, this is what she had to say, “we don’t advertise, our products promote itself, one customer buys and spreads the word.”

The family run business supplies to Harbourside and Seeadler Bay hotels in Manus and the general population, while around the country, Josephine takes orders through shipping and DHL Services.

Stalls at world coconut day event
Stalls at the World Coconut Day event.

Gwen and Josephine like many other SMEs who showcased their products at the World Coconut Day were able to do so with the backing of Kokonas Indastri Koporesen.  

An important component is ensuring they meet the national standards of producing quality products for consumption this includes packaging and branding.

KIK continues to provide training and financial literacy to rural communities across the country especially for farmers and plantation owners.  

KIK is encouraging them to participate in order to achieve the country’s Medium Term Development Goal 4 – To grow PNG’s GDP to K200 billion and create one-million jobs.

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International Market Exposure for Village Cocoa Farmer

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Balthazar Winjowa has never been more optimistic about his family’s future then today.

After undergoing training with the EU-STREIT PNG Programme to revive cocoa in Wanwara Village of the Turubu LLG in East Sepik Province, where he comes from, the 33 year-old says he’s life has changed completely.

Along side the materials that the EU-STREIT PNG provided, Baltazar was also privileged to undergo bud grafting training, learned proper pruning techniques and studied cocoa fermentation and processing.

“I learned how to conduct pruning and bud grafting,” he explains.
“I now train other farmers in my Village and show them how to manage their cocoa blocks.”

The training and tools started paying off.

In the first half of this year alone, Baltazar harvested 7,300 kilograms of wet beans which yielded around forty bags of dried beans.

He says that the trees just started bearing fruit and he is seeing production increase.

“With the support from STREIT, we are harvesting beans with no Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB) infestation,” He says.

The improved quality of Baltazar’s cocoa has opened new doors for him and his fellow farmers.

With the support of the programme, he had the chance to send his cocoa beans to the Queen Emma Chocolate factory in Port Moresby where they were evaluated for quality.

“STREIT came to my Village and sent samples of my cocoa to Queen Emma. I got a WhatsApp message on my phone saying that I have high-quality cocoa,” he recalls with pride.

His success also led to an opportunity to meet an Overseas buyer from New Zealand.

With the help from STREIT, Baltazar was able to attend a factory presentation with Queen Emma Chocolate, where he met the lady buyer from New Zealand.

“She said if I pass the quality standard, she will visit my Village to sign a contract to supply one tonne of dried cocoa beans per year,” he says.

For Baltazar, this journey has transformed not only his business, but also his family life.

With the money that he earned from cocoa, he has been able to provide more for his family.

His eldest daughter is currently doing grade 9 at Yarapos Secondary School, and Baltazar is committed more to supporting her education.

“My formal education stopped at grade 8 and my wife went as far as grade 9 because of school fee problems,” says Baltazar.

He wants his daughter to go to a business college and return back to manage their cocoa farming as a business.

With the support of his wife, Baltazar is looking ahead to plan big for his future with his cocoa farming business.

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TISA Bank Unveils New Logo

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The Teacher’s Savings and Loan Limited (Tisa) Bank unveiled its newly rebranded logo on Saturday the 5th of October.

TISA group Chief Executive Officer, Michael Koisen in his opening remarks, stated that the progress of TISA over the years had seen the defining relationship between the shareholders and the board and had also attributed the success of TISA to the mutual trust between each and every Papua New Guinean.

“That idea had grown over the years into building a financial institution for Papua New Guinea and our new brand captures the essence as it transitions to a bank,”.

He says they currently have a staff of 150 and would increase that number to 600 to provide equal opportunity for new graduates from the tertiary institutions.

The expansion of TISA will see the opportunities for local entrepreneurs to access capital growth in their businesses and contribute to job opportunities.

TISA group Chairman, Gabriel Tai says TISA was established in 1972, almost 50 years ago with the purpose of serving teachers monetarily.

“They understood the power of collective savings and the strength that comes from unity” he says.

Mr. Tai also says the new brand commends the new chapter in the history of TISA with the aim to give more opportunities to the people of PNG.

The new logo – a bilum is about embracing a bigger mission, banking on change.

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Waigani Christian College Celebrates 30 years

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Established in 1993, the Waigani Christian College has been giving second chances to many students who have missed out on placings at Government run schools for high school and secondary education

Waigani Christian College is a fully registered and 100 percent nationally own private permitted school.

The school was established in 1993 with only 13 children.

Today the school is enrolling children from kindergarten to grade 12, giving second chances to those who left out on the selection. 
 
Over the years, the school has transformed with increased infrastructure development and student and teacher population.

Waigani Christian College founder, Benjamin Mul, holding a book on stage.
Minister for Education, Dawa Lucas Dekene at Waigani Christian College 30th Celebration.

Founder Mr Benjamin Mul said they are pleased to have sent a good number of their Grade 12 students to tertiary institutions.

Celebrating its 30th Anniversary this week, Mr Mul announced that with the success of this school, he is now building a University.

Prime Minister James Marape who joined the celebrations, said a wholesome holistic education that not only gives us certificate at the end of the examination but more importantly Christian attitude, ethics, character and skills.

“In the medium term development plan 4 we have year marked K4.16 billion in our plan to invest in the entire education sector in the next four years.

“If WCC wants to continue to the University, the process must be complied upon, the Government stands ready to support all the way until one day you can issue diploma and degree to Papua New Guineans in this school,” Marape said.

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Kairuku DDA Prioritizes the Upgrading of Feeder Roads

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Kairuku District Development Authority (DDA) is prioritizing the upgrade of all feeder roads in the newly created district.

Last week, the DDA board met and approved one million kina (K1m) to commence the upgrade in both East and West Mekeo.

Local MP, Peter Ioaimo said the contract has been awarded to two local contractors, Auka Constructions and Behos Constructions.

He said as a district administration government, they want to see growth in the MSME contractors.

Many of the contractors just recently registered their businesses.

“We are helping small MSME’s to grow their business. These are little contractors that we have allocated funding.

“Many have just incorporated business names and companies just 12 months ago. We give an opportunity for them to do up all the selected feeder roads.”

With the DDA board’s approval, 40% of the full payment will now be released to the contractors to commence work.

Each contractor has been awarded half a million each.

One contractor will commence work in West Mekeo and the other in East Mekeo.

While that work is in progress, the DDA awaits submissions for the Vaima to Kivori Road and a proposed new road from Ipapana to Kivori.

For the National and Provincial Highways that run through the district, Isoaimo said he has placed a request for the Provincial Government to allocate some funding through the Levi benefits from the LNG.

These roads are the West Mekeo Provincial Roads, Agevairu turn off into Hisiu, as well as the roads in Kuni LLG.

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St Michael’s Parish celebrates 107th Anniversary

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The St Michael’s Parish in the Kuni LLG of Kairuku, celebrated its 107th anniversary on Sunday 29th September 2024.

Over a hundred Catholics from in and around Kuni LLG gathered at Bakoiudu mission station for a three-day celebration.

Many paid tributes to their ancestors who were fierce warriors but turned Christians.

Joining the Catholic faithfuls was the local MP, Peter Namea Isoaimo, Kuni LLG Manageress, Mrs Alice Naime and Kuni LLG president, Mr Jimmy Aniwa.

Mrs Naime who is also a devoted Catholic said it is important to acknowledge the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael for their protection and strength in spirit.

“St Michael and the other two Angels (Gabriel and Raphael)whom are the messenger’s of God in the Catholic Church Doctrines were we have to honour their guidance, protection and their strength in spirit, that are powered by God’s mercy through Jesus christ and Mary as our Lady of the sacred heart for all our families,” Mrs Naime said.

St Michael's Parish , Kuni LLG, Kairuku District, Central Province.
People gather to celebrate at St Michael’s Parish, Kuni LLG, Kairuku District, Central Province.

“It is through prayer that we have all gathered here to witness the St Michael’s Church feast day anniversary in Bakoidu,” she added.

Isoaimo thanked the Parish priest, Father Jeremiah Paraha for making the event a success and being the main celebrant of the Holy Mess.

He stressed that peace and harmony in the communities comes through Church activities, encouraging youths to take the lead.

“Youths must also take part in this type of activities instead of doing drugs and alcohol to cause inconvenience in their respective wards,”he said.

“Church is one of the best places to go and learn Godly principles and to take lead in your own community.”

He concluded with pledging K20.000, K5.000 for a gen set, K5.000 for a new sound system and K10.000 for repainting of Church walls.

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Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

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A Technical Secondary School in the Eastern edge of the coastal Town of Vanimo has become a center of hope and progression.

With the establishment of a resource center by the European Union Support to Rural Entrepreneurship and Trade Papua New Guinea (EU STREIT PNG), Don Bosco Technical Secondary School can now have access to a digital hub that provides enriched educational opportunities as well as digital tools and services for students, farmers and agripreneurs alike .

The declining state and insufficiency in the region’s existing facilities over the years has seen the rural communities on the Eastern side of Vanimo having limited access to the digital world, preventing them from exploring and utilizing its potential for business and educational opportunities.

Don Bosco Vanimo Technical Secondary, one of the leading school that used to offer education and access to ICT in that area was faced with persistent challenges with its aging ICT equipment hindering its ability to provide quality ICT and Computer education.

Don Bosco Vanimo Technical Secondary School’s Principal Ms. Majuna Chamilou says the school used to run short courses for the students and community but all their machines had broken-down. She says the situation was dire, with only functioning but old computers up and running. “It came to a point where fifty students were sharing just ten computers”, the Principal says.

The School now has a turning point when being recognized by the EU-STREIT PNG programme to become a hub of ICT and digital education, serving both the student and empowering the community in terms of its farming business.

Through the first phase of the initiative implemented by the International Communications Union (ICU), the school recieved fifteen new Computers, a printer and the necessary support to establish a fully equipped resource center. There is also a plan for the school to recieve another additional fifteen Computers, video conferencing equipment and one more printer from the Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The second phase of Support will meet the growing demand of the local community members and business-oriented farmers. The Resource Center is connected to a power mini-grid system established by the United Nations Development Programme under the EU-STREIT PNG to ensure that it is uninterrupted and fully functional.

To further strengthen the Resource Center’s capabilities, ITU also organized Training of Trainers (ToT) capability-building for the teachers and Moderators of Resource Center including Don Bosco. These are trainings such as digital skills, e-commerce, Government to Citizen Services, team building, Sustainable Businesses Planning and Financial Literacy.”We are so thankful to EU-STREIT PNG for including our teachers in these ToT trainings. It was exactly what we needed,” Says the School Principal when expressing her gratitude.

The establishment of the Resource Center has fundamentally reshaped the quality of education at the school, improving the issue of student -to computer ratio that has been a major problem over the past years.

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70th Grade 10 Graduation for Mainohana Secondary School

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Mainohana Technical Secondary School in Bereina, Kairuku District of Central Province, celebrated it’s 70th Grade 10 graduation ceremony on Wednesday (2 October).

A total of 153 Grade 10 students graduated alongside 87 Grade 12 students.

It’s the 20th Graduation for the Grade 12’s.

Mainohana is a Catholic agency school established in 1958 by the De La Salle Brothers.

Mainohana Technical Secondary School is now a level nine school that services people in the Kairuku, Goilala and the Gulf Province.

With the theme “Valuing Your Education as Agents of Change with Faith and Love”, school Principal Nicholas Maino told the graduating students to always value themselves.

“There is always a good future out there for you, if you make a change, if you believe in yourself, if you have self-determination, if you value your education, if you value yourself and your life and you have trust and confidence in yourself.

“You will have a bright future,” Maino said.

He said with a teaching capacity of 27 teachers this year, the school ensured it provided the space to inspire students, both spiritually and physically to value knowledge and skills that will support them as foundations to challenge them to be successful.

Outgoing Head-Girl, Rachael Ume acknowledged all the teachers, staff, family and the community’s contributions to their education.

“High School for the most of us was more than just classes and grades, it was about finding our voices, pushing our boundaries and sometimes just figuring out how to open our books. It was in this arena that we laughed, we struggled and we grew.”

Former Mainohana High School student and current MP, Peter Isoaimo who has always been supportive to the school since taking office shared his experience on how difficult it was when he attended the school in 1982 to 1985.

“Many of the infrastructure you enjoy today, were built on our hands. We were taught the hard way to learn discipline and virtues of honesty.”

He told both the grades 10 and 12s that this graduation isn’t the end of education, as learning should continue where-ever they are.

“To achieve your goals, is mere perseverance and hard work. Nothing is easy! God will grant your hard work! There is no free life for anybody.”

Mainohana Technical Secondary School this year enrolled 583 students. 538 of them were boarding .

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