Bolster those national schools, says Barbara
21 January 2011
BY KEITH JACKSON
BARBARA SHORT taught in PNG high schools from 1971-83 as part of a 37-year career in which she was an educator in many parts of the world, culminating with eight years at Abbotsleigh, one of the leading girls secondary schools in Sydney.
Despite the many years that have elapsed since leaving PNG, Barbara has maintained close connections with many of her former students and she counts former Governor General Sir Paulias Matane as a friend.
In her submission to Australia’s Independent Review of Foreign Aid, Barbara recalls how, when Sir Paulias launched her history of Keravat National High School in 2009, they both agreed that PNG was no longer catering adequately for its gifted and talented students.
“We recommended that the previous National High Schools, who used to produce the top professional people for the country, should be made into selective Schools of Excellence,” Barbara wrote.
Her submission reveals that the Education Minister and Secretary for Education agreed with this strategy – and that Sir Michael Somare put aside money in the Budget for this purpose.
“Sadly,” Barbara added, “the PNG people have watched these schools slowly deteriorate so much that now the buildings have to be pulled down and rebuilt. They need help with this.
“My suggestion to you is that you offer to help the PNG Education Department set up these Schools of Excellence to train the professionals for the years ahead.
“What I'm suggesting is that the Australian government aim at something concrete that they can do as a form of aid which can be seen by everyone.
“I suggest that the Australian Government offer to rebuild these four National High schools - Sogeri, Keravat, Aiyura and Passam -which are now in a terrible stay of decay.
“I also suggest that the Australian government offer to help them with staff to improve the training of the teachers to teach at these schools.
“If something isn't done soon then there will be few PNG students trained to a level that can cope with university courses and the whole country will suffer.”
Barbara Short is one of a number of PNG Attitude readers and contributors, committed to the PNG-Australia relationship, who have made submission to the Aid Review.
More details on the aid review are at http://www.aidreview.gov.au/index.html. Submissions must be received by 2 February
Peter Baker ... you were interested in Passam National High School. I have the latest information and contact numbers.
Government has initially allocated K10 million to rebuild the school, five of that initial amount went to paying land owners, with what is remaining is a small management team of three, the principal and two deputies are on the ground, planning and implementing a new look Passam.
Hopefully another batch of the funds will be available, so that work can get done, and we hope that students can be enrolled in 2015. That is, if politicians do not rush in to have students sent there for 2014.
The principal is Mrs Theresa Duingu, the chairman of the Board is Mr. Daniel Yakei.
I can give you their telephone numbers if you contact me on [email protected]
Posted by: Mrs Barbara Short | 24 October 2013 at 07:07 AM
I feel sori for you Gail. I have been hearing of some schools doing a very good job but I am also hearing of problems.
I guess Education needs a big shake up in PNG. It might be good to say that the government will allow all children to attend school. But what school? Are there enough schools, enough teachers, enough chalk?
The country needs dedicated teachers who understand all these problems to speak out and demand improvements. Do you have a Teachers' Federation i.e. a teachers' union, that can speak up for the teachers and the poor facilities.
You also need a Parents' and Citizens' Association to speak out. The newspapers need to write about the problems. EMTV needs to do articles on the problems.
Until more people start trying to do something to improve education the problems will probably not go away.
Posted by: Mrs Barbara Short | 23 October 2013 at 09:52 AM
I am a teacher, 20 years of experience and have seen it all. If national high schools are deteriorating, secondary schools are worse.
Teacher training is not what it used to be and mentoring and supervision is ineffective after the reform.
Poor administration of school and lack of innovative, creative teachers and so much contributing to the so many problems of the schools.
Posted by: Gail Loup Ani | 23 October 2013 at 08:21 AM
I worked in PNG high schools for 21 years and became convinced that most important of all was good management by principals who are prepared to ensure that teaching staff:
a) know the work
b) attend their work
Many do neither but are not dealt with. This is partly because a principal is a political appointee, who spends more time at the education office with cronies, or in town meeting wantoks, than at school.
Posted by: Peter Baker | 21 October 2013 at 10:15 AM
Hi Manitoba - It's good to hear from one of my long lost schoolmates from the Sogeri class of 70/71.
I also fully support the excellent idea by Barbara Short.
Posted by: Reginald Renagi | 09 June 2011 at 03:19 PM
Manitoba - As far as I know, there is not enough money at the moment to convert seven schools into Schools of Excellence so the authorities are planning on getting three up and running as soon as possible.
These are Wawin NHS, 60km up the Markham Valley from Lae, a new one built by the Chinese; Port Moresby NHS in Gerehu, built by the Japanese; and Keravat NHS, if it can be upgraded. AusAID are doing the investigations into this at the moment.
Money is in short supply, and it is very sad when the politicians get their hands on money when it should be used by the departments to supply services.
If public servants are corrupt then the country needs an Independent Commission Against Corruption to investigate.
Sadly I think that some of the construction companies run by the PNG people may suffer from a lack of expertise.
AusAID has evidently been doing a great job over the years upgrading many of the schools in PNG that were built by the Australian government but which have gradually deteriorated due to the harsh climate and the lack of repair work.
Posted by: Barbara Short | 09 June 2011 at 02:14 PM
I went to Sogeri (the pioneer class of 70/71) and fully support Barbara Short's idea of converting the four National High Schools into 'special schools of excellence'.
I hope some influencial people are reading this in Waigani and Canberra.
The PNG and Australian government must make this happen in the near future.
Posted by: Manitoba Kaioni | 09 June 2011 at 11:01 AM
Good one Barbara. Looks like it could be win/win situation for all concerned.
Whilst on the education debate, whatever happened to those old (pre-independence) trade training/vocational schools located in remote areas that neatly filled the educational gap for Grade 6 students unable to progress to high school.
From memory, that program showed encouraging results.
Posted by: Harry Topham | 09 June 2011 at 09:57 AM
A group of ex-teachers from Keravat National High School has just spent an interesting afternoon with an architect involved with upgrading high schools in PNG for many years.
He recently spent time at Keravat, at the school, surveying the buildings to see what is repairable and what is not worth saving.
We were able to tell him a lot about the history of the various buildings on the school site.
Evidently AusAID asked for this survey to be done and hopefully they will be willing to offer money to help in repairing the school.
The Education Department is keen to push on with the establishment of the new Schools of Excellence and Keravat is to be one of them.
This architect will keep me informed of any progress in this matter.
He has met Joyce Tepu who is Superintendent of National High Schools and feels she is doing a very good job trying to get the best outcome possible. Congratulations Joyce, on the good work you are doing!
But it will all take time and a lot of effort and planning and a lot of money.
We know that in the past the old PNG hands (like us) have often been left out of any AusAID decision making, so we really appreciated this man coming and sharing his information with us.
He was also willing to listen to our ideas, which was great!
I'll keep you posted when I hear any more information.
Posted by: Barbara Short | 08 June 2011 at 05:00 PM
Yesterday I had a phone call from an Australian architect who says he wants a copy of my book "Tuum Est - the History of Keravat National High School" - as he is involved with the rebuilding of Keravat NHS - an AusAID project.
Wow! You can imagine my shock and my joy, and the huge smile on my face!
Tomorrow former Keravat teachers will meet with this gentleman at my place in Sydney, to tell him all about the history of all the buildings at Keravat. No doubt we will tell him lots of other pieces of information about Keravat.
The renovated buildings will only be the start.
The school also needs excellent teachers, an excellent syllabus, it needs to be connected to the internet, it needs computers, it needs science equipment, DVDs, videos, books, both textbooks and library books, and most of all, students who will be proud to attend and to do their best and work as hard as possible.
TUUM EST PNG!
Posted by: Barbara Short | 07 June 2011 at 08:29 PM