PNG Hunters Headhunted PNG RL Are Left Heart Broken Opportunity To Earn K70,000

Papua New Guinea Rugby League (PNGRL) officials are caught out when recently promoted head coach of Gateshead Thunders, Stanley Gene, signed 4 talented players from PNG Hunters. Immediate counter word was ‘protocol’. PNGRL will release a statement on Monday the 3^rd of November. If protocol has been bridged, what then?

This is serious issue. Stanley Gene has to be very careful in his dealing with the crop of players he signed. PNG Government, sponsors and PNGRL have developed something unique last year through PNG Hunters. For this not to repeat, management of PNG Hunters will set a precedence to safeguard their players – they will send out a clear message to players, scouts, agents and admirers.

If the situation hits a deadlock, it may mean visas application is stalled. Their dreams of playing for Gateshead Thunders and future in the UK or PNG could be shattered. They are likely to be terminated from playing with the PNG Hunters or the national team. Their future in RL is gloomy.

Stanley Gene’s career can also be jeopardised if he did not follow due process. If there was an International Rugby League Code Of Ethic to deal with this issue, Stan would be aptly disciplined. However, he can escape this predicament for now.

Stanley has admitted that he did not talk to PNGRL and PNG Hunters management. But in all honesty, Stan’s intention wasn’t that sinister. Take a look at the benefits these 4 players are likely to enjoy posted on QPNG Rugby League News & Views by Chris Thompson:

GREEN GREEN GRASS OF ENGLAND

1. House - A house will be supplied for the boys to live in communally .

2. Car -  A car will be supplied who ever chooses to get the UK drivers licence will be able to drive it,

3. Money - Players will be full-time as paid professional players.

4.  Education - Gateshead College will be available for any players wanting a tertiary education for life after rugby league .

 5. Future - Gateshead Thunders is owner is a Multi-millionaire with the vision of getting Gateshead elevated into The Super League Competition in the next few years.

Others

6. Travel – Given their status as seasoned international players plane tickets to UK and back to PNG.
7. Insurance would be included in their contracts - a compulsory component of risk cover.

Perhaps the most important benefit is their salary. So, here is an insight to how much they are going to earn - take home pay. Minimum wage in the United Kingdom is £6.50 an hour for those 21 years of age and over. These 4 young men are professionals. They are going to earn more than the minimum wage. The table puts figure to take home pay based on UK Government's minimum wage scale. It is important to note that this is the BASE wage.

Gateshead Thunders are going to pay these professional rugby league players more. They are NOT minimum wage earners. They are professionals. 

It is a win-win situation for everyone involved in players’ development. Stan’s intention was innocent except to give his countrymen a better chance. This is an opportunity – truly an opportunity as these 4 men wouldn’t have a chance to get a life in the northern hemisphere if it wasn’t for the head coach of Gateshead Thunders.

This is their lives. Let them have it.

The Opinion Matrix | Facebook and Twitter October Trend At Home and Abroad

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Gary Juffa POLITICS This is NOT about politics...this is about our LAND and our FUTURE! Corrupt leaders and transnational criminals cannot take over our future. DPM Leo Dion Mr Dion condemned the attempted coup saying it would “set a very bad precedent and a threat to the unity and security of the nation.”

Mark Mexico RUGBY LEAGUE Gateshead Thunder have signed four Papua New Guinea internationals.  "I know from my own playing days just how much talent we have back home and we want to give them the chance to develop here," said coach Stanley Gene.

Mairead Doyle TOURISM PNG is a rare gem: a pristine dive destination that has not been overrun by tour boats and dive liveaboards. It is an expensive place to travel to, and moving around the country can be difficult and slow. However your efforts will be rewarded by a surprising number of dive shops, offering fantastic value and unspoiled dive sites.

Nicky of Menyamya AGRICULTURE Agriculture in PNG is lifeless. Behind the controversies, there's people like Nicky, who grows apples in Menyamya

SUMMARY | Lae School Fights - Principals Are Best Placed To Stop Students Fights

School's Culture Vs Students' Culture

Students’ violence is big problem in Lae city schools. Article (I) highlighted the need for quick solution to this problem. Prevalent negative students’ culture affects lives of young men and women. It has to be neatralised by creating a good school culture.

Included in the article was a video report of Morobe PEB chairman's remarks about disinterest in the fight to stop students’ violence.

What Can Be Done At School Level and Within Provincial Education Circles

Second article gave detail to roles of local education officials from the principals to provincial governor. How they can use their powers to solve school fights. Morobe has decentralised education system. PEB has responsibility to intervene in school’s affairs. I pointed out that Governor can use his powers to influence principals and school boards to improve school’s performance.

Fighting Bad Habits Vs Fighting Bad Students

Five misunderstood areas relating to students' behaviour and schools' discipline were identified in article (iii). Effectiveness in school fights rests on identifying students and their bad behaviours. Targeting behaviours instead of students and have proper methods in place to correct them is the best way forward. Suspension should be the last resort in any disciplinary action.

Principals Face Dismissal If Schools’ Performance Does Not Improve

Final article emphasised the importance of principals taking stronger control of schools. Principals ‘know-how’ on establishing positive school culture can change bad behaviours.

School have to be place where students are not only educated, they must be moulded to be better citizens.

PNG Politicians On Recruiting Cheap Labour From Melanesian Spearhead Group Of Countries

Recruiting Pacific Neighbours to Fill Skill Shortage: Universities, Technical Colleges and other colleges in PNG collectively take in only 4500 Grade 12 graduates annually. Out of 21 000 plus Year 12 graduates, over 80% are ejected from mainstream institutions.

Are there jobs in PNG job-market? The answer is YES.

Instead of recruiting from the Melanesian Spearhead Group of countries, PNG government (MPs Peter O’Neill and Richard Maru) should talk about expanding spaces at universities and college; technical colleges, business colleges, agriculture colleges and teachers colleges.

They should talk about apprenticeship opportunities with oil and mining companies. Their priorities should be to develop a generation of skillful people. This is what true and clever leaders do - have vision for their people.

Is this an example of a stupid plan? YES. Producing skilled labour was in National Education Plan 2005 - 2014. After 10 years and politicians are talking about recruiting labour from outside. That is not alright as there are over 19000 Grade 12 students dropouts, let alone how many at Grade 8 and 10.

Why not tap into our large pool of retired people? Are they not good enough? Why not prepare those 19000+ dropouts for future?

If (for e.g.) PNG #LNG lifespan is 30 years, it is not late to do just that. Forward planning is about having vision for the country you are running now!

Bugandi Secondary School, Where Are You Heading? De-centralised, Provincial Government Has Total Control

Their Appearance Reflects A Complete Break Down In School's Management & Students' Ethics

EMTV Video Photo

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Management must be effective: That is the most important aspect of a strong school. As evident in this photo, there is NO control. Take a look at these students inside the school's boundary: their foot wear, head wear, trousers, un-tucked shirts....what does it tell of the school BoG and principals?

Pumping money onto the school will not solve the attitude problem and school violence. It will only improve the look of the school. 

Provincial Government Must Work Closely With School: Definitely!! Why have they ignored the fact that Bugandi is a problem school? The Governor, Provincial Education Officials, BoG and school admin must join hands together to fix students' attitude problem.

You can never blame students. The people to fix this 'rubbish' are the local education authorities and school management, NO ONE ELSE.

A Good Call, Education Secretary - What Else Is Different That The Education Dept Wants From Civil Society?

Report from The Post Courier (Tapo urges public to have input in new Act, October 24,2014, 01:58 am)


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''The Secretary said areas the civil society can make comments on may include: boards of management, boards of governors and governing council, free and compulsory education, quality of education, boards of studies for elementary, primary and secondary. Furthermore, comments can be made on curriculum, language of instruction, structure of public service and administration at Provincial and District levels

The secretary said the powers and authority of Provincial Education Advisers, District Education Advisers, District Administrators and accountability must be clearly articulated can also be commented on. Views can also be made on the teacher and technical education and the 2-6-6 school system structure for elementary, primary and high Schools’

Tapo said the remaining consultations will be held with the permitted schools, international education agency and the Churches in November.

Meanwhile, the Secretary said the final consultation will be held for the appropriate Government Departments also in the month of November or December. Tapo has urged the public and those provinces consulted already to submit their views or queries to this email address: Act_Review@education.gov.pg.''

Using Quadratic Formula To Solve Quadratic Equations - Part (III)

*The Quadratic Formula can be used to solve any Quadratic equation. But, students must know how to use it; they must know values of a, b, & c; know their directed numbers; and know how to simplify surds.

Solving Complex Quadratic Equation by Factoring - Part (II)

Take a look at another complex equation where factoring does not work. That's where you MUST use the Quadratic Formula

ALGEBRA | Factorising and Solving Quadratic Equations: The Factoring Method or Quadratic Formula (Part I)

It is a pity to see many students shying away from enjoying maths. Students often find certain topics like Algebra challenging. I’d like to identify the difference between simple and complex quadratic equations and solve them as examples. The questions are real GCSE (UK/Edexcel) exam questions. 

To solve a quadratic equation (equation of the highest power of 2), one MUST first know how to factorise the equation.

Factorising and solving simple quadratic expressions (and equations) like x² – 4 (difference of 2 squares) and x² + 4x + 4 can be easy. But such this work, introduced in Grade 9 or 10, often paves way for harder questions in later years. So a proper understanding is vital.

Solving Simple Quadratic Equations

More on Solving Complex Quadratic Equations

Find out either to Factorise and solve or use Quadratic formula in Part (II)

Fractional Powers | How to Solve Problems On Fractional Powers Using Knowledge on Index Laws & Surds

Let’s have a look at 3 Higher Maths Exam Questions

Questions from GCSE Mathematics Higher Papers | Edxcel

Lae School Fights (iv): Principals Face Dismissal If Schools’ Performance Does Not Improve

The UK government plans to create a body called regional school commissioners who will have powers to siege control from school identified as ‘failing’ by school inspection body Ofsted. The Independent  newspaper opening headlines read ‘ Government-appointed officials to remove governors and head teachers in failing schools….’ (18/10/2014). Under their control they will send 1500 ‘super teachers’ into struggling classrooms in an effort to boost students’ performance and improve schools’ ranking.

The whole idea was to challenge school governors, principals and deputy principals to pull-their-socks-up.

Lae city schools have senior education officers who have been sitting at the principal’s seats with years of experience. Some even feel as if they are irreplaceable. It is time Morobe Provincial Government comes up with a plan to challenge principals and deputy principals of troubled schools within the city.

This is not only about fighting against schools fights. It is also about improving schools’ academic performance - about improving ranking of Lae city schools.

So, if school governors and admins need motivation it must come from Morobe Provincial Government. The Government must take ownership of the schools in the province and step on the administration toes – show them who is in charge here.

Running a city school is not an easy task. This is clear from the onset, no one can deny it. But, governors and head teachers should be the force that drives a positive change, instead of being complacent. Why occupy a position in the admin when schools academic results are failing? Why doing the same thing over again when it didn’t work the first time?

 In fact, school governance must be based on systematic and workable guidelines - the school policies. Most schools do have all the policies that Education Department wants of them. These policies are cut and paste from national department’s documents with limited or no effect at school level. By this I mean, every school should look at ways to refine their policies to meet their needs.

What must school administrators do to improve school performance?

Drop in the number of Lae secondary school students going to tertiary institutions in successive years showed that there was urgent need to seriously reconsider the way things are done. Take a look at these as examples. Call it Guides For Principals Of All Schools In Lae City.

1.      Selecting Students – Begin With a Good School Culture

I pointed out in my first article one of the ways students join generation groups is determined by the part of city they come from. Targeting feeder schools can be an effective way to create good school atmosphere and stop students fights on the streets.

If negative students’ culture begins at primary school, school admin should re-think the traditional selection process. Instead of accepting students from the mainline schools, they should take students from outside the city.

Take for instance, city secondary schools should offer privileged places for students from remote schools like Menyamya, Wasu, Salamaua, Dregahafen, etc. All the boarding spaces should be awarded to these students with certain conditions attached. If it means expanding boarding space to 70% boarding and 30% day, it must be spearheaded by the Government to see a change.

Day students must also have conditions attested to their spaces. For example, parents must be from the working class or earning a certain amount of money in wage or salary, students must be living with a parent/s, students must be dropped off and picked up etc.

These are hints and examples for controlling enrolment and ensuring quality of students are maintained during selection of students.

(*Principals, you cannot stop students when they are fighting and killing each other at Eriku but you can stop it from happening)

2.      School Behaviour Policy – the code of conduct

This policy governs students’ ethos in classroom and around school. It is the code of conduct. They must be taught the requirements of being a student in a city school on day one: uniform, appearance, conduct, respect for teachers, respect for fellow students, respect for the public, etc.

The reason why a policy on code of conduct is important is that it neutralises bad behaviour students may have inherited from outside. When students come into a school they MUST pick up the school’s way of doing things, practice it and perfect it before they leave. This is how school influence students and prepare them to face the World.

One way to effectively implement such policy is to actually police it. That means that principals should know how to monitor students; they should know how to stop bad behaviour repeating; they should also know how to stop bad behaviour from spreading.

If it means doing random blood test on students to check for presence of illegal substance, by all means, school must do it. If it means suspending 25 students for the sake of 100, principals must take this bold step.

Perhaps the most important thing is to monitor, curtail and contain bad behaviour within schools.

(*Principals, you can create a way to neutralise bad students’ behaviour by putting in place a clear code where every student can follow from day one).

3.      School Disciplinary Policy – The Penalty

Disciplinary policy edges on the action school administration (including BoG) takes when a student has bridged School Behaviour Policy. This outlines what penalty one would have faced.

I clearly outline the step in taking disciplinary action in my third article and mentioned termination should always be considered as the last resort. Every opportunity has to be given to correct bad behaviours before this final action is taken.

In regards to Lae schools, a clear message has to go out to parents. They have to be made to sign a declaration to protect their child/ren. This means that parents have to agree with school’s code of conduct (School Behaviour Policy). By doing this parents agree to let school monitor and correct any behaviour contrary to schools' best practice.

END: Board of Governors and school administrators in Lae city schools MUST think about how to improve their school’s performance. Start fighting bad student behaviours. Create workable school policies to encourage good behaviour. This is a big challenge for all the principals and deputy principals in Lae city schools.

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I will give a summary of articles (i) - (iv) in my final post. 

4500 Spaces at Tertiary Institutions in PNG are Susceptible to Bribery

According to the Papua New Guinea Education Secretary, 21430 Grade 12 students have sat the national examinations this year. Dr Tapo also revealed that only 4500 spaces are available for the academic year 2015 at all higher learning institutions. That means that 20% of students in Grade 12 will be considered for universities and colleges throughout the country.

Tiri Kuimbaku's photo | Sharp Talk (Click to view discussion)

This article featured in PNG Attitude

The drop-out figure could be more than 80% (16730). Take a look at the data and facts presented. The irregularities are pretty shocking!

English and Literature (E&L) exam are compulsory/mandatory for all students. That means that if 21430 students have sat for the examinations, the same number should ALSO do the E&L exam. Unfortunately, the real number that sat the exam was put down to only 17236. So, who are those  4194 (i.e. 21430 - 17236) students?

In fact, the same number (21430) should also have sat for Mathematics examinations. The department statistics showed that 7091 students sat for Maths A and 13191 Maths B. That gives a total of 20282. Who are 1148 (21430 - 20282) students, where is their place in the total given by Dr Tapo?

Numbers presented by the secretary do not actually add up when we are talking about only 4500 spaces. 

Take, for instance, the difference between the total of grade 12 students given by the secretary (21430) and those sitting E&L (17236) is about the same as the number of spaces available from tertiary institutions, i.e. 4500 available spaces vs 4194 unaccounted students sitting the exams.

In the Maths exams, there are 1148 students who are suspiciously unaccounted for. We are talking about numbers in the thousands when there are only 4500 places. The odds indicated that dropout figures for this year could be more than what initially thought.

As a matter of clarification, students doing code, distance study or resitting exams could have been included. 

But, even if they are included the irregularity is in the thousand and so there is a stiff competition between the 'known' and 'unknown' students, the accounted and the unaccounted. That means that more than 4000 students who are not attending a formal secondary school are also vying for one of the 4500 spaces.

Fair enough. But, the secretary for education should make this clear in his reporting. He is presenting figures that do not reflect the actual situation. How many students are not from the mainstream education system? At least put some meaning into the numbers.

The irregularities in numbers do indicate extra students are included in the total competing for the limited spaces. So who are they? We don't know. The point is: if 4000 students from the mainstream secondary school are competing for the 4000 spaces with another 4000 'ghost' students, the NET competition is zero.

In reality, those 4500 spaces are susceptible to bribery, manipulation and foul-play of all sorts. So, who suffers here?  Those poor students who have spent the best part of their 12 years in the formal education stood little or no chance against a manipulative (unaccounted) lot. 

The Papua New Guinea Department of Education needs to collect relevant and accurate data from schools around the country. The secretary analysis must base on factual data. He must not spit out data to the media when the numbers are flawed.

Make no mistake. The unambiguous numbers can have a dramatic effect on mainstream students - those young 18 and 19 years old. It is unfair to mistreat one student in the selection process, let alone thousands of them. 

END: PNG education system is producing 80 - 90% dropouts at Grade 12 every year. Yet, the government does not have accurate data to help sort out this problem.

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With only 1 in 5 PNG students able to get into tertiary education, there is fear that this will induce corruption http://t.co/jmCIy9j35g
— Keith Jackson (@PNGAttitude) October 26, 2014

Top 10 Things To Do In PNG's Capital City, Port Moresby

POM has lots of things visitors can do. Like any holiday, if you do a proper research, you are likely to find the best things around/within the city to do. 

I thought it would be helpful to list 10 touristy 'things' visitors (including locals) can do when in POM.

Only in #PNG: He Called the big croc over and kissed it.... Adventure Park Port Moresby | Credit: Daniel Potuku pic.twitter.com/uI0HGxq0um
— PNG Insight (@PNG_Insight) February 11, 2015

5 Things To Do Within City

1) You can arrange for a guided tour along the ranges from UPNG to Hanubada ( a good way to see POM from a different angle) or singsing group from one of the Motu Koitabu villages (travel out to the village and enjoy the tranquility there). 

2) The  Parliament House -Opens every weekday, free of charge. You can look around or go in when the doors are open and visit Parliament Gallery. Check parliamentary sitting time. If you love comedy, you'll enjoy the sessions - a must watch. 

3) Port Moresby Botanical Gardens - Variety of native flora and fauna to see at the gardens: Animals can be seen up close and personal; Cassowary, Bird of Paradise, Crocodile, Snakes, including a good collection of ferns and orchids. 

4) Vision City Mall - If you are up for a stroll or window shopping, VCM could be the right place to visit. It offers a contemporary shopping experience. (Ssshhh....here is the secrete: given value of PNG Kina at the moment, overseas visitors can shop and save). Paradise Cinema is located within its precincts- check out the cinema if you want to watch some dull movies. 

5) Ela Beach Art and Craft Market - takes place either at the end or beginning of every month. A lively atmosphere, always buzzing with traditional items, PNG bilums, carvings, canvas paintings and all things PNG. You may see a traditional PNG 'singsing' performing at the market. 

5 Things To Do Outside The City

6) Loloata - day visit to Loloata Island Resort can be arranged easily from any hotels in POM. Spend ing a day or two is not a problem as there are plenty of activities you can do when on the island: snorkeling, diving, walking, kayaking, or just relaxing in the sun - recommended.

7) Kokoda - If you really want to feel the tropical heat and enjoy the flora and fauna. You've got to do this. Preparation is essential. Tour operators can be found here.

8) Pacific Adventist University Sunday Market - take a trip out to PAU, enjoy the sunday morning market and surroundings there. You can also visit the Safari Park while you are there (right at the entrance to PAU) or travel 10 minutes up to Crystal Rapids & to Bomana War Memorial. A complete package can be found on PNG Trekking Adventures website.

9) Varirata National Park - You don't have to travel to other parts of PNG to see beautiful birds of paradise and enjoy natural beauty of the place. A day trip to VNP is a better way to get out of the city. 

10) March Girls resort - Located 3 - 4 hours out of the city, a nice place with 'black sandy beach'., good family getaway. Along Magi Highway, travelling past Loloata. There are road side markets where you can get fresh 'kulau', watermelon, mango and anything on sale at fraction of the price in POM. Take a picnic, sit on the beach, have an SP beer and enjoy the day.

Lae School Fights III: Fighting Bad Habits Vs Fighting Bad Students

This is part III of Fight Against School Fights series. 

The article is about identifying and dealing with students’ bad behaviour in schools. Many school administrators do fear students’ reprisal when dealing with students. 

Fear lingers mainly because admins and school boards tend to fight students instead of their behaviours. Students' way of doing things against guided principles - negative students culture -  when not monitored and corrected can lead to other chronic bad behaviours. The key word is chronic as such is contagious and spreads among students. 

But, how does a one-off bad act becomes chronic? I will discuss how to correct one bad act and contain it before it established tentacles among students. 

Below are five ambiguous areas where school administrators can exploit to contain bad students’ habits effectively.

Adapted: EMTV 

I am going to use the words act, habit and character. To make readers understand them, I am putting them into context below.

Plant a thought, reap an act

Plant the act, reap a habit

Plant the habit, reap a character

The character determines a destination

1.      Discipline Vs Behaviour

Discipline is about moulding students’ behaviour. It is not the end, it is always the beginning of a process. Every student who enters a classroom whether they are from the street, village, middle class or upper class has to be seen equal by teachers and school admin.

Educators often identify students’ abilities by academic capabilities (bright and not-so-bright), leadership roles and behaviour. What is important here is the fact that regardless of the student, school has a responsibility to develop every student to live a happy and fulfilling life – many call it the integral development.

Schools are there as institutions for moulding and shaping minds and hearts of young people,  hence systemic discipline is a vital element.

2.      Home Discipline Vs School Discipline

Many have a preconceived idea that discipline starts at home. A line must be drawn between discipline at home and at school. Discipline always starts at home. This is true for those who have decent family upbringing where parents are there to drill into their children good habits.

Starting to learn about the world at home is always effective (for sure) and that is where discipline starts by default. But, this can be a ‘dead argument’ for students who do not have a place call home. What about student living with 'wantoks, or students from broken and violent homes? And what about students who have good homes, but are influenced by peers on the streets?

As long as students are in the school, school takes responsibility on all matters pertaining to shaping good habits. School as learning institution must instil good attitude in young men and women. School has the ultimate duty to ensure this happens.

Classroom is WHERE a parentless child sits with the privileged. School is where a violent dad does not exist for the day. School and classroom are neutral grounds where character-shaping can take place unobstructed.

3.      Protecting Students

Welfare of every student and teacher within school precinct take precedence. More often many school administrators concentrate on fixing fault instead of proactively building barrier to prevent it.

By this I mean school admin and BoG often overlook a few ‘rotten apples’ in school. That does not means those students are rotten. It is their way of acting contrary to school’s norm and ethos that is rotten.

In order to protect the integrity of school and majority of students who are good, those behaviours have to be clearly IDENTIFIED, MARKED and DEALT with.

4.      Targeting Behaviour Vs Targeting students

I mentioned the difference briefly above. Most school administrators and BoG often target students instead of their behaviour. This is where the problem is!

Bad habits, actions and behaviours are always common year on year in every school. This can be an effective way to discover students because you never tell from students names. Having an idea about bad habits, bad actions and bad behaviours can help to solve students’ behavioural issues forehand.

The point here is to fight the actions and behaviours that are bad, instead of fighting with students. If it means revising school disciplinary policy, by all means, do it!

5.      Discipline Within Classroom Vs Discipline Within School

This is a major challenge for Lae city schools. This is where classroom/subject teachers, class patrons, deputy principals and principals are pivotal in application of discipline.

In behaviour management, there has to be clear communication all throughout the process. Communication with student and parents is the key; starting with verbal warning, referral to deputy principal, punishment, warning letter to parents, facing BoG, etc. Expulsion/termination should ever be considered as the last resort.

Discipline is always the start, not the end. Applying discipline is about reinforcing good habits, getting students into a good school culture and ensuring prudent behaviour exits the first time, every time.

END: Following a clearly outlined disciplinary process is the best way to control and contain bad habit before it takes stronghold in students.

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In my next post I will undertake to concentrate on principals and deputy principals as the pillars of discipline and what they should do to foster good school culture ....

PNG LNG GAS PROCEEDS: How Much Has Been Made Within 5 months?

On 26^th May 2014 there was report of first liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment . Within 5 months, over 12 shipments have arrived at their destination, Japan.

The LNG project built at a cost of about USD$19 billion. Estimated to produce for 30 years!

Calculation: These are based on Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s response (see video below) to questions regarding the proceeds from the sales of 12 LNG shipments.

*Calculations are based on responses from the Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, when questioned Don Polye and Sam Basil. 

O'Neill said over 12 shipments have gone out of the country. That means that there is more than US$600 million of proceeds from PNG LNG sales to date.

The Irregularities in O'Neill's Response: Two obvious contradictions worth re-iterating. First media outlets and Exxon Mobile have been saying that the project has a 30 year duration, but the prime minister mentioned 20 years when giving his response. Well, 10 years difference means a loss of a third of projected revenue. Second, PNG government Hansard, pointed out by Sam Basil, has record of treasurer boasting an undisclosed amount of government's cut parked in Trust Accounts earlier in a parliament debate. Yet, the prime minister contradicted him - watch the video.

What is the PM implying to international community and stakeholders when he concocted a different story to his treasurer?

O'Neill also said the revenue will start to come to the government's coffers from 2015 on wards. That is a decision usually made by company's board of directors, not O'Neill or his government.

End: We are clear that there are now US$600 million (that is PNGK1.5 billion) in proceeds in the bank. Misinformation and irregularities when dealing with billions of country's Kina must be avoided at all cost. There should be NO room for error.

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By the start of production, the Project had spent nearly 11 billion Kina (US$4.53 billion) on combined Lanco and non-Lanco services #PNGLNG
— ExxonMobil PNG (@ExxonMobil_PNG) October 17, 2014

Archive Past Issues in Education

1. Lae School Fights (i): Students' Culture Vs School's Culture
2. School Fights in Lae (ii): What Can Be Done At School Level and Within Provincial Education Circles
3. Lae School Fights III: Fighting Bad Habits Vs Fighting Bad Students
4. Lae School Fights (iv): Principals Face Dismissal If Schools’ Performance Does Not Improve
5. MP Loujaya Toni's Take on School Fights in Lae
6. School Fights: Secretary For Education Concern and the Action He Never Took 
7. K1 Million for Marking Grade 12 Examination Papers: Consultants, NDoE and MSU To Give Back To PNG Government Factual Stats
8. National Education Plan 2005 - 2014| Ten Years Of Education Through A Measurement-Disservice-Unit
9. Bugandi Secondary School, Where Are You Heading? De-centralised, Provincial Government Has Total Control
10. A Good Call, Education Secretary - What Else Is Different That The Education Dept Wants From Civil Society?
11. 4500 Spaces at Tertiary Institutions in PNG are Susceptible to Bribery, Manipulation and Foul-play of all sorts
12. SUMMARY | Lae School Fights - Principals Are Best Placed To Stop Students Fights

School Fights: Secretary For Education Concern and the Action He Never Took

Dr. Michael F Tapo’s skilfully identified two important powers within school that remain inactive when discussing school fights in Papua New Guinea Schools, including Lae Schools: the School Admin and School Board.

He correctly stated that:

“School administrations must establish a good working relationship with different authorities in the province and communities to minimize the disciplinary problems going on in schools especially school fights,” [Press Release]

They have to remain open-minded. That means every provincial education authority has to work together as a unit from school principals and board to provincial education adviser (PEA) and provincial education board (PEB).

The secretary for education has to do something if he is genuine about the concern he raised. He is not an ordinary citizen, nor is he a classroom teacher. He is the secretary! He has got to either have a plan or consult with affected schools on the best way to address schools fights.

The secretary’s ineptitude would be obvious if he had not done anything. 

This is a huge fight and it has to be fought strategically - a challenge that needs practical solution. To be successful, careful planning is needed before any action.

If he is truly concerned about school fights, he has got to have a plan of action to help school admin and board of governors; he must make his concern heard. It would be incompetent to have released a press statement without strategic plan.  

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School Fights in Lae (ii): What Can Be Done At School Level and Within Provincial Education Circles

UPDATED 16th December 2018

In an earlier post, Fight Against School Fights In Lae (i): School's Culture Vs Students' Culture, I explained students’ culture by stating 2 ways students are identified and 4 impacts on students education.To clarify any misunderstanding, this series of articles is not an attempt to outline duties for each of the positions below (they know what to do), but to give insight into what each person performing the role can do to help solve the problem of school fights in Lae schools. 

So, let’s have a look at those positions and powers at play here:

School administrators: secondary school admins are principal and deputy principals. Those positions are pivotal when it comes to disciplining students; applying discipline (when a student is in the wrong) and enforcing discipline (to show authority and maintain good school culture).

Every student WITHIN a school has got to have respect for admin. But to gain respect, admin must earn it! Drawing clear line between good and bad students' behaviour is where discipline matters. School admin must maintain students’ discipline at all times and enforce it when necessary.

If an admin cannot do this simple ask, they are rendered useless and ineffective. 

School board: A school board is the ‘ultimate’ body within school’s boundary; comprised of parents and teachers reps, senior teachers and admin. In additions to school governance, they make important decisions on bad student behaviours. 

On hindsight, there must be a clear and strong presence of school board chairpersons and their peers on matters pertaining to students’ discipline. 

I call it ‘the ultimate body’ as school boards have the potential to control and contain students from behaving badly. It can create a positive school culture in school by working closely with schools admins.

Morobe provincial education board: PEB exists on provincial government’s prerequisite. Its role is that of a ‘middleman’ between school board of governors and provincial education authorities. 

If teachers or students do not agree on school board’s decision they can go to the PEB. It can deal with discipline matters especially if students appeal a decision by school board. 

That means that PEB can hear disciplinary matters. If, for example, Bugandi or Bumayong or Busu or Lae Secondary School is seen to have on-going problems the chairman of PEB must step in and find out why.

He must keep school admin and board on their toes by asking questions and reporting to PEA, PA and Governor if/when necessary. 

Provincial education adviser: PEA represents the national department of education in the province. He advises on teachers’ professional conduct, including educators’ appointments to positions within the province.

He is the go-to person if there are internal disputes apart from the PEB. 

As the head of department in the province and having power over the principals, PEA is a key player to solving school fights. He is the mouth piece of the national department of education on policy matters. He is also the glue that holds schools and principals and school boards together. 

Provincial administrator: the PA oversees many departments in the province, representing provincial and national governments. This is a political appointment. PA has powers to question performances of PEA, principals and school board. 

Politicians: Elected members have direct responsibility to question admins and school boards of schools in their electorates. At the same time, they have a responsibility to make sure their schools are good schools. 

For example the Member for Lae Open Lae, Loujaya Kouza, has make a call for all Morobe politicians to form a working committee tasked with providing avenue for afterschool activities. As a former school teacher, she also knows that a solution can come about if she takes a leading role by engaging people within education circles. So, she must go to schools in her electorate and talk about her ideas there before asking her male colleagues support her.

Morobe governor: this is the highest political position in the province. Any school in the province facing a problem is his problem too. Fighting against School fights in Lae should be the Morobe Governor’s number one priority. He has inherited the problem, he must find the solution. 

Does it mean he must start sacking people? He has the power to make things happen. He can find a way out. He only needs to find a way to empower the principals, deputy principals, Chairman of PEB, PEA and PA. 

He needs to take a leadership role on the fight against school fights in Lae.

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My third post will be on 'signs of bad students' behavior and 'what to do' to protect good students