Education

The program will cover all elementary, primary, secondary, Flexible Open & Distance Education centres, inclusive education and vocational education and training institutions.

Social services chief executive officer, Benson Apelis, said: “The reintroduction of the provincial inservice training week is a way forward to strengthening the capacity of teachers in New Ireland Province.

In circular number 24 of 2023, Education Secretary, Dr Uke Kombra, said all school accounts should have been credited by end of last week.

Of the 10,640 schools – from elementary to special education and rehabilitation centres – K154,760,640.25 has been paid out by the government.

“Decentralised provinces are reminded to remit the total funds as allocated to schools immediately,” said Dr Kombra.

“There should be no variation by provinces in the allocations made by the department.

She aims to show her students “that through commitment in education, they can make a difference”.

After completing a Bachelor of Education, (Secondary Teaching STEM) at St Peter Chanel Catholic College for Secondary Teacher Education, through an Australia Awards scholarship, she now teaches at Kwip Dau Secondary School in the Western Highlands.

Gethrude loves being a teacher as she learns so many new things.

The organization's Inclusive Education Officer, Noah Agino, has been busy reading his story 'I am Noah' to the children at the Library Learning Centers.

Noah, who has a hearing impairment, shares his experience growing up with the disability, and is joined by Jonathan, who also has a hearing impairment, and Rena, who has mild Autism. 

Both children are thriving in the BbP ECE program and are enthusiastic learners.

Buk bilong Pikinini's programs are designed to be inclusive and welcome children with disabilities to learn alongside their peers. 

The program is an eight-year investment by the Australian Government, aimed at improving teaching and learning practices in Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

The launch of PIE was celebrated by students, teachers, parents, and community members at Hahela Elementary School, located outside of Buka Town.

He said the high enrolment has placed a lot of strain on schools to make spaces available to take in extra students; and schools are struggling with infrastructure to cater for these influx.

MP Rumet highlighted this when witnessing the opening of a new classroom and launching of the 1-6-6 Primary Education Stricture in Volavolo Primary School, Balanataman LLG in Rabaul yesterday.

Assistant secretary of early childhood education, Michael Mera, outlined that upon request by the Provincial Education Board (PEB), a school inspector will visit the proposed institution to see whether it has complied with the minimum operating standard.

Some of the factors that will be taken into consideration include infrastructure, the general environment, catchment areas and teachers.

The inspector then presents the report to the PEB, who will make a provincial recommendation to the general education division within the education department.

PNG NRI Director, Dr Osborne Sanida says there is a problem in the labor market due to the mismatch between labor supply and the demand. 

He explained that the labour supply is what comes out of the training and education system, whilst the demand refers to employers. He said demand is limited, whilst supply is never ending in society. 

Dr Sanida says, “From a policy perspective, the government has the free education policy. Which is very good in terms of how we can increase the literacy for our country.”

Last year, Chris learned to read Tok Pisin when he attended an adult literacy training conducted by the Baptist Union PNG (BUPNG) in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province.

Chris hails from Markham in Morobe Province. He didn't have any financial support so he was unable to pursue an education. Despite that, he participated in community activities, attended church and was a youth leader. It was through these activities that Chris attended the adult literacy course.