It takes a village to raise a child, and a whole community to support their education.
Parents, teachers, the community and government officials in Kairuku in the Kairuku-Hiri District in Central Province have committed to improving elementary education in their village by launching 50 new School Learning Improvement Plans (SLIP) and a Central Province Elementary School Service Charter in Bereina on Friday 20 September.
The SLIP and School Service Charter under the Together for Education Project support priorities identified by each school, including teacher development, school resources and infrastructure, and gender and disability inclusion.
Australian High Commission representative Michael Quinn said the Together for Education project is delivered in partnership between the PNG and Australian governments and is aimed at ensuring girls and boys at elementary level improve their literacy and numeracy skills.
“The School Learning Improvement Plans are a key component of the National Department of Education’s Planning Framework.
“The Plans outline the vision for your schools and will support the generation of resources to ensure every girl and boy has access to a quality elementary education into the future,” he said.
Dr Quinn added that the Service Charter as a new tool was important to use for accountability purposes.
“Improving education outcomes requires strong accountability and strong accountability requires a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities,” said Dr Quinn.
“Today, this community has shown that when everyone works together, there can be greater accountability and improved school planning.
“Communities in Kairuku District are leading by example, and we hope that their success in improving schools through their plans will serve as motivation for other schools across the province and country to develop theirs too,” he stated.
SLIPs are already leading to change at schools in Kairuku with more engagement from parents and the community.
At Inuaia Elementary School, parents and the surrounding community have provided new latrines for students and a tank and school buildings have been painted.
ChildFund PNG and the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council are working with 50 schools in Kairuku District over a two-year period to strengthen school planning, increase parental awareness and improve community accountability for elementary education outcomes.
The Together for Education project is supported by the PNG-Australia partnership and is delivered by a consortium of partners - World Vision, Library for All Australia, ChildFund, Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council and the University of Canberra.
(Elementary school children and teachers from Kairuku District deliver the School Service Charter Agreement and School Learning Improvement Plans to PNG Government)