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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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Education

Perseverance to Improve Education

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Herman Namora, 21, is a 3rd-year student studying Literature at the University of Papua New Guinea. He is from Madang and is passionate about the importance of education.

Having made it thus far to the highest learning institution prompted him to help those less fortunate.  He was concerned about so many Grade 8 and 10 school leavers pushed out of the education system with no hope of advancing their career paths and returning to the village where social issues impacted their way of life.

His concerns started back in 2019 after completing Grade 12. He had returned to the village during the holidays to find out that one primary school had enrolled 60 Grade 8 students only to pass out 13 while 47 were back in the village.

 This scenario experienced in most rural schools persuaded Herman to do a survey with primary school teachers. The teachers expressed concern that students struggled with English and faced difficulties with reading and comprehension.

Herman Namora meeting with Teachers during his survey.

Herman decided then to help in any way he can. He gathered young adults in the community and conducted awareness on the importance of early childhood learning. With the help of the Catholic Diocese and Madang Teachers College, 14 school leavers were taught Phonics to be able to return and serve their communities.

Their work is voluntary and for two teachers who returned to Dallam they faced challenges such as setting up a classroom and sourcing materials coupled with ethnic clashes which hindered the progress of their teaching but all was not lost, the community realized the keen interest in learning by children aged 3 to 5 years and decided to build a classroom.

After two years and sheer determination, the first batch of graduands from the Early Childhood Learning school will be certified at the end of this month.

There is still more work to be done but excitement is in the air for Dallam village as they prepare for graduation day.  For Herman and the teachers, all the work is voluntary and they hope to seek funding for learning materials and reading books for the children.

The first batch of students. The classroom was built by the community.
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Education

Girls School Welcomes New Infrastructure

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Students attending the Mary Immaculate Girls Technical Secondary School in the Gumine District of Chimbu Province are proud recipients of new school facilities.

The new facilities will support more girls every year from Chimbu and the surrounding highlands provinces to access high-quality technical and vocational education and training, improving their skills and broadening employment opportunities in the future.

A 76-bed dormitory, staff housing, student and staff ablution blocks and upgrades to facilities throughout the school were funded through the PNG-Australia Partnership Program at a cost of K6.4million.

The new classroom facility was built under the PNG-Australian Partnership Program

“Empowering girls through education benefits everyone, not just the students. It means they can choose their own career paths and support themselves, their families and the community,” said High Commissioner Philp.

Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso said the Government is a strong supporter of empowering women and girls under the Take Back PNG Policy.

“It is important for our daughters to be educated too just like our sons,”

“Infrastructure such as this will provide more beneficial programs,” Rosso added.

The project also included procurement of new laptops, and sewing machines and training for girls in basic office administration, skill management and financial literacy.

“We are changing attitudes about what girls can do and empowering girls to believe in themselves and their abilities, fulfilling the school’s motto, ‘Empower to Serve’,”

“We are grateful to the PNG-Australian Partnership for helping us to achieve this goal and reach even more girls every year with these important opportunities,” said Sr Regina Anthony, the School Principal.

The facilities were opened by Australian High Commissioner Jon Philp, Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso and Gumine MP, Dawa Luckas.

Students attending the Mary Immaculate Girls Technical Secondary School in the Gumine District of Chimbu Province
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Education

PNGTA Expresses Concern

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The Papua New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) is taking the Education Minister, Secretary and Teachers Service Commission to court following non-compliance with a four-month court order that’s not being complied.

PNGTA National President Aita Sanangkepe said the court had ordered their inclusion in the discussions of the National Education Board, National Capital District Education Board and Provincial Education Boards.

“I’ve directed my lawyer this morning to take contempt proceedings against these people named because there is a court in place,” Mr Sanangkepe said.

He continued, “There’s a national court order in place to allow us PNTGA to represent teachers in Papua New Guinea (in) all education boards”.

The Union representative for the Teachers said for unknown reasons the court order of May 27, 2022, wasn’t implemented and it was frustrating.

“Court order is Court order, no one is above the law,” Mr Sanangkepe said.

The union is also crying foul over the National Education Department and Teaching Services Commission for its failure to publish the Education Gazette for the third consecutive year.

The Education Gazette is important for teachers when it comes to:

  • Applying for a position within the school they are teaching in,
  • Applying for a teaching position in another school,
  • Applying for a position in another district or:
  • Applying for a position in another province.

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra in response said it is now incumbent on the PNGTA to appoint their representatives and submit them to the Education Minister’s office.

“The Minister appoints the NEB after each rep of stipulated organizations submits names with CVs. The CVs are assessed to determine a nominee’s fit and proper status by the department,” said Dr Kombra.   

Furthermore, the Minister has recently resumed duties and the matter will be addressed if the Union has made its submission.

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Education

Students Miss Out on National Written Expression Exam

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Morobe’s Program Advisor for Education, Keith Tangui told Inside PNG that more than two hundred
students from two Secondary Schools in Lae didn’t sit for their National Written Expression Exam on
Monday due to continuous fights along Lae’s backroad area.

Keith Tangui, Morobe’s Education Program Advisor.

Tangui said the fight was believed to be caused by election related violence along the backroad area and
Bumayong.

This prevented the students of Malahang Technical Secondary and Bumayong Secondary
school from attending classes.

Mr. Tangui said the students who didn’t sit for the exam have to report to the Principal of the schools
and to the Board of Governors in order to have a position reserved for next year.

Tangui said the students have the right to education, therefore they shouldn’t be rejected by the Schools.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Education Advisor called on the communities to refrain from fighting and
respect the students’ education and school infrastructure.

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Education

Lihir School Celebrates National Book Week

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National Book Week

The National Book Week theme for 2022 is ‘’Choose Your Destiny – Read”.

Lihir International school joined schools around the country in the first week of August for a series of fun and educational activities to celebrate National Book Week. It featured a costume parade by primary school students who dressed up in their favorite book characters.

The Upper primary and high school students also participated in a Book Week writing competition.

Lihir International school is situated in the Londolovit township of Lihir, New Ireland and provides quality education for children from residential families working for Newcrest Mining, its business partners and community groups.

Speaking at the parade, organizer Mrs Elizabeth Daimoi encouraged the students to read a variety of books including both fiction and non-fiction books.

Students dress up in costumes for National Book Week
Children dress up in costumes to celebrate National Book Week
Little girl dresses in Mermaid costume to celebrate National Book Week

‘’Develop the habit of reading – it will help you make wide decisions on your lives and the kind of person you want to be in future.” Mrs Daimoi told the students.

National Book Week is an annual event that encourages schools to focus on reading and its importance.  Lihir International School places a strong emphasis on reading and provides opportunities for reading through an easily accessible library.

The school also runs whole class, groups and one-on-one reading sessions that ensure students receive appropriate help to improve and enhance their reading.

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Education

Graduate Job Link Provides Job Link Training to Graduates

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A Business Management Lecturer at Goroka Technical College has gone out of his way to provide basic job link training for graduates.

Harold Malken is the founder and head trainer of Graduate Job Link, a volunteer employment agency based in Goroka.

Through his Agency, he has developed a customized Curriculum Vitae (CV) and job application package, which he is offering to new graduates, with an aim to help them secure employment.

“Graduates go through a lot of hurdles in their first job entry. This is because graduates are not prepared during their formal education.” Mr Malken said.

Malken said, tertiary institutions only trained graduates to diploma and degree level and fails to bridge the missing link, and that is to train students on how best they can structure their job application and CV.

“When I first started teaching at Goroka Technical College in 2017, I noticed students trying their best to write good CVs and job application for employment.

“This also reminded me of my days after graduating with a Bachelor Degree in Strategic Management at the University of Papua New Guinea in 2011, and very importantly how hard it was to secure my first employment.” Malken said.

In 2019, he conducted his first session of training at Goroka to up skill graduates to write good CVs for employment and also trialed out his CV samples.

In 2020, he got about 5 positive responses from the first 30 students who attended his first training.

That has motivated him to enhance the CV Package to include 6 features, and that includes:

a. Explanation of CV from the employer perspective

b. Job Dedicated CVs

c. Interview questions, their corresponding reasons and answer guides

d. Interview Preparation Strategies

e. Post Sale Services like editing of letters and CV

f. Doing Mock /Practice Interviews and

g. Providing Practical Job Application Sessions.

Mr Malken has since been conducting trainings for graduates in Goroka, Lae, Madang, and Port Moresby since 2019

Malken said, from over 500 graduates who attended his trainings, more than a quarter has found formal employment in both public and private sector organizations.

One area of focus where Mr Malken is challenged with is ‘Experience’ which is a one of the main requirements for job entry.

“We understand that graduates do not have a lot of paid job experience. When conducting trainings, we provide 7 different strategies to cover for experience.

“There are lot of challenges like wantok system and nepotism, however graduates should know that the probability of their employment also depend on how best they can market themselves in their CV and Cover Letter and constantly applying for jobs.” Mr Malken said.

Apart from his Job Application training package, he has also introduced a SME training for Beginners.

“With an increased unemployment rate in the country, the SME for Beginners Training is developed to provide a self-employment option for graduates, so that they can participate in Government Funded SME Programs through BSP and NDB.” Malken said.

He said he is using his own personal experience as a former Bank South Pacific Pioneer SME Lending Officer from 2012 – 2015 to run the SME training.

Mr Malken further added that his aim is to see graduates to be formally employed or informally through self-employment, and see them be their own boss, drive their own car, and sign their own cheques.

Last weekend Mr. Malken with the assistance of his volunteers conducted a two days training with more than 60 attendees at Goroka.

Graduate Job Link’s July session will cover Goroka, Lae, Kimbe and Port Moresby Moresby.

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Education

Save the Children PNG takes Online Safety advocacy to schools

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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.

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Education

New Primary School Opens in Numbo

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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.

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Education

Ablution Blocks Used as Dormitory Rooms

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An ablution block that used to serve the male students of Salamaua Provincial High School in the Huon Gulf District of Morobe, is currently used as rooms to accommodate sixteen male students.

Due to rundown dormitories and lack of proper infrastructure, the male students turned two ablution blocks into rooms with a holding capacity of eight students in each block. The students improvised in separating the rooms, making it possible for four students to sleep at the top and four on the floor. They had also turned the area where the sink used to be situated in the ablution block, into a study corner.

Huon Gulf MP, Ross Seymour was on his way back to Lae after visiting the school when Lae Media arrived at Salamaua. Seymour said he made commitments to assist the school this year following the retirement of the former School Principal who will be contesting for the 2022 National General Elections.

MP Seymour briefly told the media that the district refrained from assisting Salamaua High School because of the former Principal’s interest in politics and that since he retired, the district would step in to assist the school.

Salamua Provincial High School Principal, Norman Apul said over the past six weeks, the school renovated and maintained a boys’ dormitory and would continue to maintain other dormitories for both the male and female students.

Meanwhile, the school’s Library and the Home Economics building are currently used as dormitories for the female students.

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