Education Secretary

The NBW is one of the annual events within the Ministry of Education that is organised and coordinated by the Office of the Library and Archives. 

Education Secretary, Dr Uke Kombra, says: “During the NBW, teachers and students of all institutions throughout the country are required to participate in this event actively. This is so that they can promote and celebrate books and reading as important sources of enhancing knowledge acquired during teaching and learning.

Education Secretary, Dr. Uke Kombra, has announced that the exam will be held on Monday, 7^th August.

“29,433 Grade 12 students who are currently attending 160 secondary and national high schools will sit the Written Expression Exam, which will take three hours.

Secretary for Education, Dr Uke Kombra, is calling on the newly-elected leaders and authorities in the provinces to support the students by ensuring that the examination is conducted as planned.

Dr Kombra made this call due to his concern that there are still some schools throughout the country that are being affected by election-related activities and issues, resulting in many teachers and students not turning up for classes.

Dr Uke Kombra accepted an invitation from the College to visit the different displays put on by the staff and students to mark the event, and he was quite impressed with the developments that have taken place.

“I would like to congratulate St Joseph’s International Catholic College on its centenary celebrations and wish them more successful years to come.

“The Department of Education has always valued the strong partnership we have with the Catholic Church which runs many of our schools and institutions in the country.”

Education Secretary Dr. Uke Kombra said 69,000 Grade 10 students are expected to sit the exam in 301 provincial high schools and secondary schools nationwide.

Provincial education advisers, provincial examination supervisors, senior secondary schools’ standards officers, guidance officers, principals and head teachers have been urged to be vigilant and security conscious of the confidentiality of the examination paper.

“This is to avoid any form of malpractice that may compromise the examination results,” stated the Secretary.

The 70 male students who were in class when the dormitory burnt down lost all their personal belongings. The fire, which was aided by strong winds, engulfed the building, leaving the students with no chance to rescue their belongings as it burnt down very quickly.

The extreme heat had also affected the nearby dormitory housing 80 other male students, which is now uninhabitable. Students from both dormitories are now accommodated temporarily at the Yumi Yet properties at Gerehu, which is costing the College K70,000.

The launching was held on Thursday at the Baruni road side, which is one of two locations that the program had been piloted in the last two months.

The program currently has 130 children registered; 50 attending the mobile school at Baruni and others at Gerehu Stage Six.

The curriculum used is the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) and elementary syllabus for beginners (ABCs).

Dr Kombra highlighted this following the recent suspension of head teachers from schools due to the collection of project fees as a condition of enrolment.

He explained that there is a long process that the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) follows under the Teaching Service Act in the case of teacher suspension.

Education secretary Dr. Uke Kombra said religious education is one component that has been captured in the Culture and Community subject under the new Standards-Based Curriculum (SBC).

The SBC learning kit is now being distributed to all 7,000 schools throughout the country. Each kit contains SBC elementary syllabuses, teacher guides and English materials.

Kombra said they will seriously look into introducing religious education, values and attitudes in the curriculum.

After the suspension, teachers affected will be restored on the payroll upon receipt of copies of Resumption of Duty Summary Sheets (RoDSS) by the Provincial Education Adviser.

In addition, he said that new graduates from Primary Schools’ Teachers’ Colleges, University of Goroka and the Pacific Adventist University will be placed on the payroll upon receipt of the following documents: