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Introduction
Education in Papua New Guinea is both 'traditional' and 'formal'. Through the
day-to-day activities of families and communities, children learn the valued
ways of speaking, thinking, knowing, and doing. The PNG government runs the
'formal', western-styled schooling but, with over 800 language groups and communities
that only accessible by air or a few days walking, the literacy rates are low.
With the support of the Australian aid program, the PNG government is implementing
the Education Reform which aims to:
- provide access to 9 years of relevant basic education for all children
- provide instruction in the language children use and understand for the
first two years of school
- strengthen all areas of the curriculum, by improving standards and emphasising
life-skills
- expand access to secondary and vocational education
- improve teacher education programs
Teaching in the local language
When Lucy Tsikula sets out for work in the morning she doesn't have far to
walk. Lucy is an elementary teacher at Kawok Memorial Elementary school in New
Ireland Province. She walks the short distance from her home to her palm thatched
classroom, which is situated midway between Munawai and Lugagun villages, on
the east coast of New Ireland Province in Papua New Guinea. Along the way she
greets and is joined by children from her elementary (primary) prep and multi-grade
classes, and by parents and other community members.
Lucy is one of 6,000 elementary teachers in training in all provinces in Papua
New Guinea. She is in her final year of a three year training program. Her day
begins when she sets up her classroom to ensure that all is ready for the 36
seven- and eight-year-old children who will be in her care for the morning.
From 8am to 12noon she will implement a national curriculum that emphasises
vernacular (mother tongue) literacy, mathematics and culture and community.
The language of instruction will be the local language, Nalik.
With the children in her multi-grade class at Kawok Memorial
Elementary School, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea, teacher Lucy Tsikula
is making rules for keeping the classroom a safe and happy place.
After school, Lucy will tidy the classroom, plan her program and create resources
for the following day. Through the Elementary Teacher Education Support Project (ETESP) program, Lucy is provided with 'shell books' - cartoon books
that allow her to write the text in Nalik. She will also meet and discuss the
day's events with her co-teacher, and spend some time in further study on Self-Instructional
Units. At least once during each school term, she will be visited by her elementary
trainer, who will supervise her teaching and assist her with her studies. Through
her participation in cluster workshops with colleagues from her district, Lucy
will gain further professional knowledge.
Working together
As part of the cultural and language program, a community elder
tells stories in the local language to children in Lucy's class
Teaching prep and grade one in Nalik has prompted a powerful community response.
Lucy, like her elementary colleague, has been chosen by the local community
to be the teacher. The community has proudly supplied the land for the school,
built the school's classrooms, and continues to carefully maintain the buildings
and outside play areas. Community members also manage the school through the
Board of Management, and help to develop the curriculum and actively participate
in the daily program.
Source: AusAID
Focus Vol. 15 No. 2 July 2000, pp.11-12
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/focus/0700/offtoflying.pdf
Teacher Education in Papua New Guinea
http://www.pngteachereducation.com/pastep/index.php
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