WNB graduates 833 elementary teachers

833 elementary teachers in West New Britain Province have graduated after six weeks of intensive training.

Teachers around the Kandrian, Gloucester, Mosa, Hoskins, Talasea, Cenaka, Bali/Vitu, Kaliai/Kove and East Nakanai converged at the Gavuvu SSEC church ground for the workshop. It started on July 4 and ended with a graduation ceremony on August 19.

The training was based on the Self Instruction Unit (SIU) and the Mix Mode. It focused on teachers who had been teaching without certification since 2007, said Provincial Elementary Training Coordinator for West New Britain, Mary Aumie.

She stated that the backlog of teachers was a result of schools not established and registered under the National Education Department. The schools were supposed to create teaching positions upon receipt of those applications.

“Most elementary teachers are not getting paid because most of those requirements were not being met,” said Aumie.

While 833 teachers graduated at Gavuvu, 312 graduated at the Lutheran Church in Kimbe and 224 at Kandrian, under the supervision of elementary coordinators from the Provincial Education office in Kimbe.

With their SIU and Mixed Mode teaching aides and certificates, the teachers can now apply for a diploma in early childhood learning, offered by the PNG Education Institute and the University of Goroka, said Aumie.

Aumie mentioned also that those interested in becoming an elementary teacher should meet the following requirements;

  • Be a local person
  • Fluent in the local vernacular
  • Gr 10 – 12 certificate holder
  • Possess good personal qualities
  • Have a medical report and a police clearance letter

She said the Member for Talasea, Francis Marus, had committed K50,000 towards this training, which is yet to be released.

Total costs for this training were over K100,000.

Aumie said elementary teachers paid their administration fees to attend the training as well, totalling to K22,000. The other 50 percent of the training cost was met by the WNB Provincial Education Division.

Teachers from distant areas were accommodated at Gavuvu while those within the vicinity travelled in daily to attend sessions.

The training was conducted by Aumie and District Elementary Trainer for Gloucester, Anne Mackle. They were supervised by the National Elementary Coordinator to West New Britain, Rose Waso, who travelled in from Port Moresby.

(Graduating teachers at Gavuvu on Friday.)

Author: 
Diane Mirio