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FIFTY participants of the Lahara Women’s Association of Tubusereia village in Central province, Yesterday received their certificates after completing two weeks of Start Your Business (SYB) Micro-enterprise training. participants of the Lahara Women’s Association of Tubusereia village in Central province, Yesterday received their certificates after completing two weeks of Start Your Business (SYB) Micro-enterprise training.

The training was facilitated by the SME Corporation, with an aim to help citizens create employment and generate income through the development of small businesses start-ups.

In a small Graduation ceremony yesterday, SME Corporation Acting Director Capacity Building and Business Advisory, Mr. Edward Kepa challenged the participants to put the knowledge they gained into practice.

“You cannot expect change and different results by doing the same things over and over again.

“You have to learn to do things differently. In business, you have to learn to be patient, start small and grow,” Kepa said.

He also challenged the men to support their wives in starting small businesses.

Kepa further added that SME Corporation wanted to change the mindset and attitude of Papua New Guineans towards business through delivering trainings at the ward level where the majority of the population is.

The Participants were grateful for the knowledge they have received in the two weeks of training.

“The training has given me a better view of life for the future.

“I have learnt that there is more to life than sitting in the house and thinking motherhood.” A Participant said.

The training covered various topics, including how to come up with business ideas, record keeping, profit and how to get loans to start businesses.

The program also focuses on citizens who have already started a business but do not know the basics of running a successful business.

The SME Corporation is running these training in various provinces with an aim to help locals become successful in their businesses.

They have over 200 certified trainers, delivering these trainings in rural areas in the country.

It is a key impact project among other key policy and legislative reforms SMEC has initiated in 2020 and 2021 to support and deliver on the Government’s vision to develop and grow the MSME sector.

A NEW early childhood education tutoring service has been set up to strengthen early learning in young children in Papua New Guinea.

It is the brainchild of 26-year-old Founder and Director, Dianne Meli, who is a teacher by profession.

Miss Meli started this service in 2020 after realizing that there were gaps in existing learning programs, and the absence of different modes of online distance education during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

“As a teacher I have a passion for education, especially with children. I like being more involved (in this process) and developing supportive programs fosters their (children) love for learning”

DIanne Meli, Founder and Director of TIPS FOR KIDS

Miss Meli admits that like most people today, she grew up not liking school and being bombarded with questions about her future career path.

“The truth is, most young people grow up not knowing what they desire to do in life, only to discover it later.

“I believe the early years of a child’s life, is the best time to start developing their mind because this is when their minds are still very delicate and free of any misconceptions of the world around them.

“Early childhood education is the stage to teach a child the right and true concepts, especially pre-concepts that they will need in order to progress.

“If a child is not taught at a young age, there will always be a need for intervention, causing gaps in progress or a lack of progress altogether due to difficulties or challenges he or she may face in the future.”

Her love of learning was discovered during her teenage years at the age of 15-years-old when she was given a part-time job opportunity to work in a small family-run private school.

Her roles included the facilitation of teaching and learning, grading and marking individual student exercises, and the overall supervision of daily routines.

While she recalls how challenging this experience was, it was after going through this that she developed a love of working in a classroom with students.

“The best part of practice for me, is in the moments of teaching when a student realizes a concept you taught them and uses it to connect a problem to a solution.

“From my personal knowledge coupled with experience and practice, children learn through play at the stage of birth to 3-years-old; and by the time they reach ages 4-6, they reach the age of development where they are old enough to learn more constructively in school, however, parents have an individual choice for the results they desire, and I respect that.”

Miss Meli pursued her passion by undertaking an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) where she attained a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care. This opportunity not only broadened and developed her love of working with children and getting to know them through play, but also exposed her to working in an international industry.

She is now operating a private tutoring firm called ‘Tips for Kids Coaching’, providing quality tutoring through best practice of early intervention and tailored individual programs.

“I believe there is a need for additional programs to support academic success in school,” she says.

While the Government has introduced the concept of early childhood education throughout schools in Papua New Guinea, there are still questions as to whether the concept is understood, and if the education sector is properly equipped with the human resource and educational materials to roll it out.

“As an early childhood educator having returned to Papua New Guinea, I find that the State of Papua New Guinea does not have (effective) systems or services that provide Early Childhood Education for teachers to practice, and for students to learn.”

Miss Meli says that it is not only a challenge for rural Papua New Guinea, but also for towns and cities given the fact that Early Childhood Learning centers are privately owned.

She says the Government should consider upskilling teachers’ current standards to fit the concepts of teaching very young children, and introduce schools for early childhood learning within cities as well as in the rural areas.

She also stated that some of these teachers should be sent abroad to learn best practices for Early Childhood learning, in order to acquire international knowledge of implementation around this way of teaching.

“Education is a way of life,” says Miss Meli.

“I believe there is a need for additional programs to support academic success in school, therefore, I would like to encourage other young people to never give up, and work hard to achieve your dreams. Because one day they will become a reality.”

Four primary schools in the nation’s capital, NCD have taken part in Save the Children PNG’s online safety I Am Digital Campaign.

While much of the campaign is being done online, SCPNG is taking a different approach to advocating on internet safety.

“Most of the information on online safety is not being viewed on Facebook by children between the ages of 13-18 because of the high cost of data,” said Child Protection Coordinator of SCPNG, Owen Suanga.

“This is the reason we must go to the schools physically and talk to them about being safe online so they can share this information with their friends and families.”

The school visit is part of Save the Children’s support toward NICTA and the PNG Safer Internet Committee’s Safer Internet Day 2022 campaign about being safe online for young people and informing them about online and cyber bullying.

The schools Save the Children conducted Online Safety awareness in included Coronation Primary, Sacred Heart Primary, Carr Memorial Primary and Bavaroko Primary.

Both the students and teachers found the visits very educational and helpful not only as teachers but also as parents.

Joe Lai, a senior teacher at Coronation Primary School said, “Some of the lessons that we teach in the classroom are in line with the IAmDigital Campaign.”

He was very impressed with the advocacy that took place and added, “We are in a digital age and Social Media especially Facebook, has become a big part of our life today.”

“Such awareness is very helpful, so that our students will understand how to use Social Media in appropriate ways.”

I Am Digital is a digital literacy and safety initiative that was first launched in December 2021 in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga. The awareness into schools falls under phase 2 of the I Am Digital campaign that kicked off in January this year and included 3 more Pacific Islands countries which was Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Vanuatu.

The campaign aims to deliver targeted and localized information to educate and empower Pacific Islands teenagers, youth, and parents on how to have safer and more positive online experiences.

This campaign is a partnership between Save the Children and Meta (formerly Facebook) to create safer online experiences for young people in the Pacific.

by Rayon Lakingu

The People of the Ward 4 area of Numbo LLG, in the Yangoru Sausia District, Yesterday celebrated the opening of a new Primary School.

The Newly established Klewia Primary school will serve three villages in the area.

According to Local Ward Member Tony Wamahawa, people in the area have been walking long distance in search for school and better education.

This has caused many students to drop out of school.

This school will help minimize low illiteracy rate among youths in the area.

“With a total of K100, 000 funding support from the Yangoru Sausia District Development Authority, a two in one double classroom was built including a teacher’s house.” the local Ward Member said.

School inspector Maggie Kambaki said they have allocated to this school, and the school will be church run school, under the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA)

Local MP Richard Maru was satisfied with the work done the people to build this school.

He further committed a total of K50, 000 to build staff houses.

“There must be a proper plan for the future layout of the school.

“There must be a proper land development plan, so we can follow the plan to develop the school.” The local MP said.

He challenged the people to look after the school infrastructures and the teachers who will serving there.

The Newly established double classroom will cater for grades 1 and 2, while there are plans to build more classrooms.

The school is expected to commence enrollment next week.

A pastor is among four University of Goroka (UOG) students who graduated from the UOG Maprik Campus on Friday.

Pastor Benjamin Silingin graduated with Bachelor of Education in School Management alongside fellow students Micah Stanley, Noel Nahambir and Alfred Gai through UGO’s Distance and Flexible Learning, Maprik Study Center.

They are now the pioneer graduates of the campus since it’s establishment in 2019.

The other three are community school teachers.

Stanley Micah is from Kubalia and is teaching at Yangoru District.

Noel Nahambir is from Drekikir and teaching in his Electorate.

Alfred Gai is from Angoram and is teaching at Turubu.

Speaking on behalf of the four graduands, Pastor Benjamin thanked the Maprik District Development Authority (DDA) for it’s decision to build a resource center and bringing in Universities to set up Distance and Flexible Learning.

He said this decision has allowed them to not only excel in their education but respective field of work.

“It is a sign of good governance.

“Thank you for the gift of education, we are truly blessed,” Pastor Benjamin said.

Director UOG-Maprik Campus Theresa Dingu said it was crucial the graduation ceremony was held in Maprik Town to encourage others to pursue this education path.

“I was asked to bring the students to Goroka to graduate with all the students at the main campus, but I refused.

“It was crucial the gowns were brought here and the graduation takes place in Maprik Town.”

She also extended her gratitude to the Maprik District DDA to allow UOG the opportunity to extend it’s Distance and Flexible Learning Center in Maprik.

UOG was the first university to accept the district’s invitation to set up at it’s newly built resource center.

CEO Maprik DDA Joshua Himina explained that the resource center was built to give another opportunity for students who have dropped out of Grade 8, 10 and 12.

Following the completion of the resource center, the DDA provided office spaces for FODE and University Centres.

Today, the resource center houses Distance and Flexible Learning Centres for University of Goroka, University of Papua New Guinea, PNG University of Technology and Divine Word University.

Himina said the dream to give the people of Central Sepik another chance in education and bring tertiary institutions closer to home was a dream of the Local MP and the DDA.

The resource center was built from a K1.5 million Government funding through the Department of National Planning.

“Each District was given K1.5million to build education resource centers.

“Maprik District has done exactly that and is currently serving 5000 students who are enrolled in various programs,” Himina said.

Chairman of the DDA and Member for Maprik, John Simon congratulated the DDA CEO for bringing their vision into reality and the first graduation.

Extending his congratulations to the graduating students, Simon encouraged them to not only use their degrees to find employment but also create employment.

“Let’s create jobs for ourselves, let us create employment,” he said.

The Minister for Agriculture believes Education is key for his people to make informed decisions in Agriculture.

The economy of Maprik District was built on Agriculture and depends heavily in Agriculture.

The graduation ceremony took place in the newly built Community Hall which was also officially opened on Friday by Agriculture Minister John Simon.

A hundred and twenty (120) students ranging from six to sixteen-year-olds are currently participating in a training for internet safety sponsored by CPL Foundation.

The Cyber Sawe PNG School Holiday Training was launched on Monday by the charity arm of CPL Group, CPL Foundation.

The training is supported by an Australian Community Computer Science organization, SecuriDay.

The Cyber Sawe PNG internet security workshop is a first-of-its-kind which focuses on raising awareness on the safe and informed use of the internet.

CPL Group CEO Navin Raju said, “CPL Group is keen to support our younger generation to

better understand internet/cyber safety to be able to protect themselves when surfing the

internet.”

He said one of CPL Group’s values is to be responsible to the people, communities and environment of Papua New Guinea.

“The internet is one environment that children need guidance in exploring.

“CPL Group takes pride in this contribution to nation building in nurturing young minds as one aspect of national and local development,” said Mr Raju.

Kids SecuriDay Team leader, Ms Heidi Winter who leads the seven member team of cyber experts said this is an awareness to build strong skillsets and showcase internet best practices on on how to efficiently utilize the Internet and hi-tech.

“We have workshop topics covered for children, teenagers and adults,” Winter said.

The topics of the training are designed to build confidence and teach individuals how to be tech savvy in internet security and computing.

The four days training started on the 12th of April and will end on Friday 15th April..

Over 300 applications were received highlighting the need for such training.

“We have documented all the applicants and do plan to have additional programs this year with the same content.,” said Mr Raju.

A remote TVET institute located in the heart of Kutubu Local Level Government graduated its first batch of 21 electrical students on Thursday, 31st of March.

The graduation ceremony brought guests from the Southern Highlands Provincial Education Board, Mineral Resources Development Company, Advancing PNG Women Leaders Network and communities around Pimaga and Bosavi to witness the first ever graduation ceremony.

‘’The youth will carry on our legacy, they are the next generation of leaders and we must play our part by investing in their future and providing them with a platform to express themselves to drive positive development in our community, said an emotional Pimaga TVET institute Principal and Manager, Warubi Masahimu.

I am very proud to see 21 students graduate with electrical trade certificates. Among the male students, we have two females who braved their way to achieving their goals. We have to be proud of our children’s achievements. This is not theirs only but for us, our family and our community,’’ Mr Masahimu added.

The TVET institute birthed from a youth forum that was held in 2016 in Pimaga station during an International Youth Day (IYD) program sponsored by ExxonMobil.

The IYD is a day used as a youth empowerment advocacy program, an initiative of the Kutubu LLG Council of Youth & Women and supported by Advancing PNG: Women Leaders Network.

In addition, with a strong support system established by the ECPNG Kuige Church, a local leader, Mr Warubi Masahimu, the Kutubu LLG youths, the community, community-based organisations, Oil Search Foundation and Southern Highlands Provincial Education board, the TVET institute was established in 2019.

“We wanted to set the pace to be that model community and initiate projects to benefit our children. Our youth population is well over 12 thousand here in the Kutubu area and, as a chairman, I was worried that there weren’t any opportunities for them. This institute is quite an achievement and first of its kind in the Kutubu area. It has now opened the pathway for our people, youths,” said Steven Farabo, Pimaga TVET Chairman and Kutubu LLG Council of Youth Chairman.

In 2019, Pimaga TVET Institute opened its doors to youths offering trade courses in Electrical, Mechanical and Carpentry Trades. 113 students enrolled and among them were six girls. That same year, the Southern Highlands Provincial Education Board recognized the efforts of the community and its partners and registered the institution.

A fully-fledged registered government institution with six trade skills instructors that provide relevant practical skills, attitudes, knowledge and understanding relating to the skills provided in various sectors of the formal and informal economic and social life of Papua New Guinea.

“We just started the foundation and there is a serious need to train and develop young people in this part of the region. We need dynamic teachers, good students and a supportive community.

“I have big dreams for this school. I would like to see proper infrastructure set up in the coming years. I want to produce quality and skilled students but, most importantly, great leaders. And finally, if God willing and I’m still alive, I’d like to see this school become paperless and move into using cloud-based platforms to educate the young minds,” said Warubi Masahimu.

Mineral Resource Development Company (MRDC) has jumped on board and provided student sponsorship in 2021 and 2022. The only Tertiary Institution in Kutubu is looking forward to more support from MRDC, Santos (Oil Search), ExxonMobil, the Local Level Government, Petroleum Resource Kutubu, the Churches, local Community Based Organizations, NGOs, and its communities to provide the second change opportunity for the youth bulge pushed out of the formal education system.

The school currently enrols students from Pimaga, Mubi Valley and the surrounding villages. However, plans are underway to get students from Lake Side, Bosavi, Poroma or Homa Paua once dormitories are built.

Education Minister, Jimmy Uguro, says the department is serious in weeding out all cult students in all schools in the country.

Uguro also condemned school fights saying it takes time, effort and money to build schools and it will take ages to rebuild.

“Don’t burn schools; communities should look after the school” said Uguro.

The Minister made these remarks during a reconciliation ceremony at St Michael’s Brahman Secondary School in Bundi LLG, Usino Bundi District on Monday.

The school was closed for almost seven months following an incident in July 2021 that affected the whole student population of grades 9, 10, 11 and 12.

The education minister, who is also the local member of Usino-Bundi electorate told the school’s board and management he was not aware of the school’s closure.

Adding the incident was easy to manage yet the school had the audacity to close the school without informing him as the minister responsible.

He said the school’s Board of Management does not have the authority to close down the school; only the minister has the prerogative.

“The Provincial Education Board or PEB only recommends the school’s suspension and the school’s closure to the education minister and Brahman you did not follow the rules”.

The Minister says education is the responsibility of everyone and not just parents, and students.

“Education is the light of your body, is the light of your journey, is the light of your life, look after education infrastructural facilities of institutions in the country,” said Uguro.

The local MP acknowledged the effort and commitment by the school’s Board of Management, teachers, students, parents and the community to reconcile.

“Today you restore peace in the community and the school, and I say thank you to the school and the community. Today is the demonstration of your peaceful heart”.

“I am not wasting my time putting up seven high schools and putting agriculture college here for nothing. I have a dream for Usino-Bundi people, one day Usino-Bundi must take on University on behalf of Madang province. As soon as I come back after election, I must get ministry and make sure all the seven high schools must take on National high school status.

 

“Usino Bundi, you got only one more step to go, you got a college already in your doorstep, people of Brahman, Bundi people you got to be happy you have a high school”.

 

The Minister added that the Marape government is now focused on the rural education program.

The government is adamant that education reach the rural and remote locations of the country and there must be high schools set up in the remote parts of Papua New Guinea.

“And we are starting with Usino-Bundi, said Uguro”.

Meanwhile the Minister pledged a commitment to assist the school with student uniforms and a computer laboratory.

The school held a reconciliation ceremony on Monday with exchange of traditional foods and pigs to mark an end to the school fight.

People in Malo Village of New Ireland have now chosen to break political barriers and choose service over politics.

In a recent gathering in Malo Village in the Matalai LLG in Namatanai, the Community witnessed the opening of a double classroom by Namatanai MP, Walter Schnaubelt.

The Namatanai MP and Civil Aviation Minister were given a traditional welcome ceremony signifying their entrance into the area.

During the opening of the double classroom for Malo Primary School, MP Schnaubelt said the future of the Province depends on the investment by levels of Government for children to be educated in a better environment.

“I’m not here for politics, but to serve and ensure services reach people in our communities” said MP Schnaubelt.

“It’s for the future generation of Malo who deserve to have a proper classroom”, he added.

The double classroom cost K60,000 and would be used by Grade 7 and 8 students.

The Namatanai MP also committed K50,000 for the construction of teachers houses and a school library. Schnaubelt also pledged around K80,000 for schools in the area. These include Malo Primary, Malo Elementary and a Phonics Early Learning Centre.

Malo Head teacher, Bernadine Neantal, thanked the Namatanai District Development Authority for the timely funding to see the double classroom completed and ready for use.

Mrs. Neantal said the school is a Level 4 institution and the Upper Primary will benefit from the new classroom.

“We are privileged to be supported by the Namatanai DDA for change and progress for our children”, said the Head Teacher.

A K10,000 commitment was also made for an aid post in Malo.

A Community representative said for a very long time no government funding was allocated to assist improve health services in the area.

Malo Aid Post Chairman, Tomarum Emes said not only education is important but health is also equally important. Emes said the funding will surely improve the status of the Aid Post for people to access health services in this part of New Ireland.

He said they will utilize the K10,000 to build a new maternity wing and immunization room.

Susurunga Primary School in New Ireland has a new hall.

The hall was recently opened by Namatanai MP, Walter Schnaubelt witnessed by students, teachers, school board and locals in Matalai LLG.

The hall is a commitment by the Open MP.

The school hall cost K70,000 and is funded by the Namatanai District Development Authority.

MP Schnaubelt expressed gratitude to the Susurunga school Board and Administration for utilizing the fundS for a vital facility.

“The hall is built as a result of prudent management and priority planning by the school authority”, said MP Schnaubelt.

“This is a classic example of building a better future for our children, the hall must be used wisely for the benefit of students, teachers and the local community”, said MP Schnaubelt.

The Namatanai MP said if schools in the District perform to expectations by using funding intended for development and improve learning, the DDA will step in to assist in building schools.

Susurunga School Head Teacher, Bruno Willie thanked the Namatanai DDA for funding the new school hall.

Mr Willie said the project team and local LLG President, Augustine Topi ensured the project was completed successfully.

Willie also mentioned additional projects include a new library, teachers houses, toilets and fencing around the school premises.

Meanwhile, MP Schnaubelt announced a commitment of K100,000 for Susurunga Primary School and K20,000 for Litoron Elementary School.

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