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St Paul’s Graduation

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St Paul's Graduation

A total of two-hundred and fifty-nine (259) Grade Eight students graduated at the St Paul’s Lutheran Primary School in Lae today.
 
School Head Teacher, Alfred Norman Lewong says this the graduation is significant in marking the end of the traditional grade eight graduations for primary schools in the country.
 
“With the proposed phasing out of examinations for students passing out of grade eight, this is a memorable occasion for our school,” says Mr Lewong.
 
Mr Lewong further thanked the board, parents, stakeholders and sponsors for their continuous support to the school throughout the year outlining funding delays from the government.
 
“We haven’t had a graduation ceremony for some years and I am grateful to our corporate sponsors who had came on board this year to make this graduation a success,” added Mr Lewong.
 
One of the sponsors, the Owner of Wonderful Taxi and Hire Cars Services and Gabensis Guest House, Chris Donald says he is proud to sponsor some awards at the graduation because education plays a vital role in the development and growth of the nation.
 
“As a Lutheran devotee,  I am happy to be supporting one of our pioneer schools in Lae and Morobe province,” says Mr Donald.

Mr Donald also represented PC & JY Woo company who sponsored the grade eight dux award which was presented to top student, Ms. Grace Totabun.
 
St Paul’s Primary School is one of the biggest schools in Lae with a total of 1,648 students.
 
Mr Lewong says as a Level 8 school, it would be a massive challenge if they are chosen to accept Grade nine students in 2025.
 
“Under the 1-6-6 Policy, we would have to accept grade one to grade nine students and that would be a burden on the limited learning infrastructures we have in the school,” says the Head Teacher.
 
Meanwhile, Education Minister Lukas Dekena this week says examinations will continue and will not be used as means to select students to continue or being left out.

IMAGE: Supplied by Sylvester Gawi

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Bringing Christmas Joy to Light Bearers Early Childhood Learning Centre

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Bringing Christmas Joy to Light Bearers Early Childhood Learning Centre

Students at the Light Bearers Early Childhood Learning Centre will not worry about school stationary next year, after receiving Digicel Backpacks full of school supplies.

In the true spirit of giving this holiday season, Digicel PNG brought cheer to Light Bearers Early Childhood Learning Centre located in Bomana, Port Moresby.

A non-government organization, the Centre is a recipient of an open-air classroom built in partnership with Digicel’s Foundation housing over 150 students.

The school was first established in 2017 and this year marks its seventh year of operation in the community. The program started with a fantastic welcome speech by advanced grade student Tina Pele, followed by prayer and a moment of silence dedicated to the co-founder and Head Teacher of Light Bearers Early Childhood Learning Center, the late Mrs. Florence Sam; who passed away in October this year.

Bringing Christmas Joy to Light Bearers Early Childhood Learning Centre

The activities began with Digicel Staff Volunteers led by Head of Marketing, Tessa Valace gifting each student with a Christmas gift as well as a Digicel backpack filled with school supplies for the next year.

Following the ceremony, the students and teachers were treated to a mini party with refreshments and drinks to further celebrate the end of the school year.

Lorna McPherson, Senior Vice President & Chief Sales Officer commented, “It’s always heart-warming to see the smiles and joy on the children’s faces when our team visits the Light Bearers Early Childhood Learning Centre.

“Holidays are a time of reflection and we as a business and individually reflect on our blessings, we are truly honored to share with those who may need a little extra.

At Digicel, we believe in using our resources to make a positive difference in our communities and partnering with the Light Bearers Early Childhood Learning Center allows us to do just that.”

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District Sends Students to Study in China

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TEN students from Unggai-Bena District i Eastern Highlands Province are settling well at China’s Three Gorges University.

The students departed PNG shores at the beginning of this month and will undertake various Undergraduate programs at the University.

This program to pursue education abroad is fully funded by the Unggai Bena District Development Authority.

Costing about K388,000, the district commits to give young Papua New Guineans the opportunity of exposure to study overseas and experience different cultures.

The crop of students included in this program are recent Grade 12 graduates and who met the entry requirements of University.

The District aims to send a maximum of 200 students by 2025 to study abroad.

Director of the Unggai-Bena District Education Scholarship, Dr Jethro Messimato expressed gratitude toward the local MP and Minister for Higher Education, Research Science and Technology, Kinoka Feo for the support.

“Our aim is to provide our young people with exposure and opportunities they may not easily access locally,” Messimato said.

“We facilitate the process by helping students identify scholarships, apply to universities and secure placements based on their academic achievements.”

The District also has a Memorandum of Understanding with India’s Parul University with a similar number of students expected to depart soon under this agreement.

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Government Focus on Private Education Providers

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In his efforts to ensure that every citizen has access to quality education, Prime Minister James Marape, encouraged and directed the education ministries to focus not only on public schools, but also on private education providers.

He said with the growing population and increasing demand for education, there is a huge potential for private education providers to thrive in our country.

“By giving attention to these institutions, the government can facilitate their growth and provide more opportunities for students to receive a well-rounded education.

Marape said he recognizes the importance of education for the progress of Papua New Guinea and adds that his emphasis on private education providers demonstrates his commitment to creating a strong and diverse education system for all.

On a related note, PM James Marape also said he would like to ease the financial burden of parents who send their children to private schools.

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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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Samarai-Murua partners with Bank for School Fee Payments

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Samarai-Murua District partners with Mama bank for school fee payments

The Samarai-Murua District Development Authority is the 3rd DDA to sign an agreement with Mama Bank to facilitate all payments of its tertiary assistance program.

The arrangement is to ensure tertiary fees for students sponsored by the districts are paid on time so it does not affect their studies.

Samarai-Murua District this year has allocated K1.7 million for school fee assistance.

MP Isi Henry Leonard said while waiting for the DSIP funding to be processed, the bank will assist to pay for all Samarai-Murua students attending tertiary institutions throughout the country and abroad.

Once the DSIP component of that funding is made available, the DDA will release it directly to the bank to reimburse the funds.

Both the bank and the DDA clarified that this is not a loan.

This arrangement is part of plans to establish a Mama Bank branch in the district.

Two other DDA’s that have signed similar agreements with the Mama

bank are Kerowagi District in the Simbu Province and Rigo District in Central.

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Education

DBTI Silver Jubilee Fundraising Dinner

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DBTI Fundraising Dinner

After 25 fruitful years of educating young Papua New Guineans from around the country alongside the teaching of Christian values and teachings, the Don Bosco Technological Institute or DBTI this year celebrates its 25th Silver Jubilee with a number of events to commemorate this milestone in the history of the institution.

On the 11th of May, the APEC haus in Port Moresby was graced with the presence of stakeholders, sponsors, past-pupils, donors, members of the Catholic clergy, family and friends who were present for the 25th Silver Jubilee Fundraising Dinner.

 The event was to celebrate and sustain the achievement of DBTI in reaching 25 years, yet to also maintain partnership with stakeholders towards the advancing in development of the institution in playing a key role in educating young men and women to become “good Christians and honest citizens” as St. John Bosco intended.

 As part of DBTI’s contribution to nation building despite the grim reality surrounding the quality of education in the country, the providing of quality education towards the betterment of the country has always been at the forefront of DBTI’s teaching objectives.

Such was the sentiment shared by the President of DBTI, Fr. Ariel Macatangay SBD during his speech to mark the welcome note of the event.

President of DBTI, Fr. Ariel Macatangay SBD, standing on stage delivering a speech.
Fr. Ariel Macatangay SBD, President of DBTI delivering his speech.

“Besides DBTI’s potential in being a partner for technological training, DBTI can also be your partner in boosting the education in Papua New Guinea.

In its May 2024 Papua New Guinea Economic Update entitled “Invest in Your Children,” the World Bank paints a dim picture of the education crisis in PNG and “focuses on the urgent need for more and better investment in education to address a human capital crisis in PNG.”  

With a total of 21 technological programs offered at the institute, this was a key statement and was emphasized on depicting the belief in ensuring that the young citizens of the nation are to possess healthy minds, God-fearing hearts, and skilled hands in order to be contributing and productive members of the community.

The same was noted and emphasized by the Guest Speaker and the Member for Moresby South, Justin Tkatchenko.

“The Catholic church has done a lot towards the educating of young Papua New Guineans”, he said.

“The takeaway from this event is that we can all achieve so much through effort and partnership for the nurturing and excelling of our young people”, he further added in regards to the importance in the benefits of working together to ensure that young women and men have access to quality education they deserve.

Tkatchenko has been a supporter towards the upgrading and development of educational institutions within his electorate.

Further complimentary remarks to mark the celebration of DBTI’s Silver Jubilee were shared and cemented by alumnus, Godrey Morisa, the Managing Director of GMT Automation who elaborated on the importance of institutions such as DBTI that has given many past pupils as himself, the opportunity to have access to quality education and achieve dreams and goals they had set forth in life.

DBTI was established in 1999, with its first batch of 75 young men as pioneer students and further opened its doors in 2001 accepted its first female students to be part of the educative community.

The institute has over a total of 800 students in 21 different technological programs.

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DWU Rabaul Campus opens a new administration building

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DWU Rabaul Campus opens new administration building

The Divine Word University or DWU Rabaul Campus officially opened a two-story administration building at the Kabaleo Teachers College in Kokopo District on Friday (5 April) 2024.

The building is named after the late Archbishop Karl Hesse, and replaces the old building that was burnt down in 2010.

DWU Rabaul Campus

Speaking at the occasion, DWU Rabaul Campus Vice President, Professor Francis Hombhanje said the national government financed the building at a cost of K2.2 million and had been constructed by Kanda Construction Limited.

“St Mary’s Vunapope School of Nursing is now a department of nursing under the faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences and is no longer school of nursing.

“OLSH Kabaleo Teachers college is now a department of Primary Teachers Education under the faculty of Education and is no longer Kabaleo Teachers college,” said Prof Hombhanje.

The DWU Rabaul Campus consists of two faculties; the faculty of Education and the faculty of
Medicine & Health Sciences and has been developing new infrastructures slowly but steadily.

Delivering the speech for the Minister of Department of Higher Education, Research, Science,
Technology & Sports (DHESRSTS) Don Polye, was Principal Data Analyst Franklyn Kulukal
who said that true power emanates from one’s ability to learn from their mistakes and emerge
stronger and wiser.

“I extend a challenge to this great institution to expand our offerings to encompass Early
Childhood Education and Secondary Education. Also extending into the highest echelons of
academia like Masters and PhDs. I also call on the DWU nursing program to diversify our
programs into specialized branches such as pediatric nursing, critical care nursing, mental
health nursing, community health nursing, obstetric & gynecological nursing and geriatric
nursing,” said Ms. Kulukal.

The expansion will cater for evolving needs in health care and ensure that nurses are fully
equipped and specialized with the necessary skills they need.

She further commended the leadership of Prof Hombhanje for the transformation from ashes
into a magnificent building, adding that the structure stands as a testament of his exemplary
leadership.

Deputy Provincial Member Boniface Gerep said that the DWU Rabaul campus has shown it’s
potential by extending it’s infrastructures as it advances it’s status to be one of the leading
institutions in the province and country.

“The ENB Provincial Government is embarking on improving all our existing secondary schools
to meet the standards,” said Mr. Gerep.

ENB Education Planner Wilson Kairat said that the provincial administration will continue to
support the institution to make sure students are given the best so they can go out and serve
the people.

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Scholarships for Geoscience Students

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Nickel 28 support development of professional geoscientists

In efforts to foster the growth of more qualified professional geoscientists in Papua New Guinea, Nickel 28 Capital Corporation, formerly known as the Highlands Pacific is sponsoring two geoscience students at the University of Papua New Guinea.

The announcement was made last month (Thursday, February 22) by Nickel 28 Capital Corporation’s Head of Asia Pacific, Craig Lennon.

“We want to give back to PNG. Having more professional geoscientists is an area that needs more support,” said Lennon during the award presentation.

Shirley Ambang, who was the inaugural recipient of this scholarship when it was first introduced last year (2023) continues her scholarship this year (2024), while Tongia, is a first time recipient of the scholarship.

The scholarship valued at K19,000 per year covers tuition fees, lodging fees, book and living allowances for Ambang and Tongia.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES: Carlos Tongia (Left), and Shirley Ambang (Right), are two of the first N28 Capital Corporation scholarship awardees. They now have a stronger chance of employment in the mining industry with this scholarship.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES: Carlos Tongia (Left), and Shirley Ambang (Right), are two of the first N28 Capital Corporation scholarship awardees. They now have a stronger chance of employment in the mining industry with this scholarship.

“This is only our second year for this scholarship. We started last year with the objective of growing to the point that we have an ongoing program with three students each year,” added Lennon.

The tertiary student’s sponsorship package is an initiative of Nickel 28 Capital Corporation carried out in partnership with the Earth Sciences Division in the School of Natural and Physical Sciences at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG).

This support takes much of the school fee burden off of the students and their families.

It also assures resource companies like Nickel 28, that there is and will be a sufficient pool of professional geoscientists to recruit from in the future and gives certainty of employment for scholarship awardees after graduation.

Nickel 28 Capital Corporation is a Toronto-based Company that holds 8.56% joint-venture interest in the world-class Ramu Nickel Cobalt operation in the Madang province.

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Education

Support for Education

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Support for Education

The Department of Education, through the Flexible Open and Distance Education (FODE) center in Port Moresby signed a Memorandum of Understanding, signifying their partnership with the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF).

The three – year agreement aims at addressing the department’s guiding principle of “Leaving No Child Behind” strengthens the collaborative effort between OTDF and FODE in delivering FODE services to the mine affected areas of Western Province.

Deputy Secretary Waipe Wingi (left) and OTDF Executive Manager Andrew Mari (right).

The Ok Tedi Development Foundation over the years they have been delivering services in Education, Health, Social Development, including infrastructure Development in Western Province,

As a registered study center since 2019, OTDF has been collecting fees and meeting costs of satellite centers in the province. With this agreement, OTDF will be meeting full fees and operational costs.
The Education Department through FODE will provide all learning materials, including training and orientation of tutors and administrative support, for the effective delivery of FODE in Western Province.
This initiative has seen students from remote areas, in the province enroll with full correspondence and upgrading programs.

First Assistance Secretary of FODE and Inclusive Education, Andrew Angobe acknowledged the Management of Ok Tedi Development Foundation, for their commitment in providing a pathway for students in the province.
“Please pass our appreciation to the management of Ok Tedi Development Foundation, for investing in education for the people of Western Province.” Angobe said.
He also challenged other resource centers throughout the country to partner with FODE and invest in education.

The Principle of FODE, Anthony Rayappan, also gave his assurance that education materials will be printed and distributed on time.

OTDF Executive Manager Andrew Mari highlighted the challenges they are facing in the province.
This include shortage of trained personnel’s and inadequate infrastructures due to limited funding at the district and provincial level.

He said the objective is to ensure quality and affordable education is made accessible to students. Offering a second chance to those who have discontinued formal education.
“Since 2019, FODE has supported about 4000 students, who have pursued tertiary education and find employment, thus contributing to the human resource development of the province.” he said.

Related: https://insidepng.com/online-learning-management-system/

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