PNG educn in ’63: dichotomy & dilemma
08 January 2009
Loch
Blatchford
It’s
1963. Universal Primary Education is no longer the goal. It continues to be a
goal but other emphases are superimposed. Higher education, indigenous
executive training and economic development continue to shape education.
The
Currie Commission into Higher Education, and the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development visit during the year. Madang Teachers’ College
opens, Goroka is expanded and higher levels of technical education are
introduced. Les Johnson had the DEO’s produce five-year plans for their
districts. Targets are set. Targets are revised. And targets are missed.
Increasingly
important is the development of potential indigenous education executives. The
Senior Officers’ Course is started in Port Moresby and on graduation officers
are posted as Assistant District Education Officers, Area Education Officers,
assistant inspectors, teachers’ college lecturers and heads of large primary
schools. The aim is to provide opportunities to develop abilities for executive
positions in the Department.
Others
indigenous officers are awarded scholarships to complete the Intermediate
Certificate or Queensland matriculation to increase the number of natives able
to undertake tertiary studies. More emphasis is placed on overseas trips.
People like Tololo, Reva, Taviai and Forova spend three months in New Zealand,
and Abana Gara and Tau Boga undertake the teachers’ tour of Queensland and NSW.
Nguna tours the South Pacific countries, Amo attends the Territory Show exhibit
in Australia, and Aisoli attends the Royal Shows in Adelaide and Perth.
Les
Johnson is keen to promote these people, but they are unable to compete with
the more experienced and qualified expatriates. To promote them preferentially
would contravene the Public Service Ordinance.
Hasluck
still sees primary education as essential to the development of the Territory.
Attempts are made to recruit teachers from the UK and the E course is expanded.
Courses are now held in Port Moresby, Rabaul and Madang and enrolment is open
to mission personnel and married women.
There
are attempts by Hasluck and Menzies to play down the rush for
self-determination but it’s obvious, after Indonesia takes over West New Guinea
and from the emphasis being given to higher education, localisation, and
economic development, that Australia has realised time is running out.
But
the problem is no longer Hasluck’s. On 18 December 1963 he hands the portfolio
to CE (CEB) Barnes and moves to Defence.
This
is an overview of the latest addition to The Blatchford Collection – summaries
of the files from the PNG education system in 1963. It will soon be on site in
ASOPA PEOPLE EXTRA.
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.