PROMISING: PNG GOVERNMENT PROMISES TO EXPAND ON SPACES AT TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS FROM 4500 TO 11600

The impact of expanding primary and secondary schools in PNG is damning. Students numbers are evidently increasing compounded by government's tuition fee free (TFF) education policy. 

An ABC report revealed that something was finally going to be done about it (increase capacity at higher institutions). Higher education minister, Malakai Tabar, reportedly  said government planned to increase intake at tertiary institution  which is likely to take effect sooner. (Pacific Beat, ABC 19/10/2015). 

Meanwhile, details of how this would happen remained sketchy. A likely avenue to make it work is by expanding existing resources and infrastructure. It is about looking within, utilising what it has and stretching whatever resource it may have to cater for the immediate needs. By this I mean, now - this year's Grade 12. This can be done. It must be done.

Obviously, PNG higher institutions lack the capacity. Numbers released by the Acting Education Secretary indicated a shocking reality. Over 96% of Grade 8,  92% of  Grade 10 and 80% of Grade 12 students do not make to tertiary institutions due to limited space. 

The plan to increase Grade 12 intake from 20% to 50% is a breath of fresh air, in fact an exciting news. 

At 20%, there are just over 4500 spaces at tertiary institution (universities, colleges, vocational centres and other higher learning set-ups). For Mr Tabar's words to come to fruition, PNG government has to ensure half of this year's 23 200 Grade 12 students secure a placing at one of the higher learning institutions. 

That would mean a further 7100 spaces would have to be created to reach the government's promise of over 50% increment in intake. Surely, It is going to be the best thing the government can do right now. And. that is to increase yearly intake from a mere 4500 to 11600 for the academic year 2016.

Increasing intake from 20% to 50% is good news. https://t.co/CKgvGwaItd

— PNG Insight (@PNG_Insight) October 19, 2015

RETENTION: A SHOCKING 96% OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS DROP-OUT

PNG government and education department would have realised that a large portion of teenagers is missing out on higher education. Stats are indicating a sad situation where over 96% of primary school students are pushed out of the system just 4 years before they could have had a chance to get a tertiary education. 

Technical or vocational education

The point here is not about Grade 12 students entering colleges or universities, but having a plan for MOST of the Year 8s to get technical or vocational education. 

It is more important to take them on board the education train than to leave them on their own to fend for themselves at such an early age.

The  Acting Education Secretary, Dr Kombra, in a newspaper report revealed that this year (2015) 120 000 Grade 8, 59 000 Grade 10 and 23 200 Grade 12 students would be taking national examinations. But, there are fewer than 4500 spaces at tertiary institutions.

Numbers of students in grades 8, 10 and 12 

Take a look at the table showing the numbers of students in grades 8, 10 and 12 compared to spaces available to them after leaving school at the age of 18 years.

Retention is the problem, not dropout: students do drop out at will sometimes but those pushed out are more than those leaving. 

So, the government has the responsibility to do something- anything it can- to increase spaces at tertiary level. If this trend is left unchecked, the government's plan to give the younger generation a proper education would not be realised.

Expanding primary and secondary schools

Primary and secondary schools (then community and high schools) mushroomed whereas spaces at tertiary institutions remain low since structural changes took place. 

The number of students entering lower and upper secondary schools increases proportionately, too.

One can also argue that number of students is further growing as a result of the government's free education policy. 

Vocational schools and technical colleges - Key

Go back to the village and you'll find youngsters are going back to the classroom after years outside. This is not a bad thing. 

However, the point is where else they go after they are given this second chance. Do something to improve their chance of getting into vocational schools and technical colleges. 

If the government is really serious about educating the younger generations, it has to start putting its money where its mouth is - increase retention within the system, especially at the vocational and technical training sector.

This does not mean only creating new institutions but expanding the number of spaces available to students at existing higher learning institutions. 

This is surely not a lot to ask. 

96% of Grade 8 students drop out

Of tthe 120,000+ Grade 8 students who sat for the annual exams, only 4% of them will eventually enter a tertiary institution in the country. 

You do the maths. It is insanity.

Why give Year 8 students false hope - hope that one day they could be entering a university or college when 96% are bound for the villages or streets?

Any goals in our National education plans, medium or long term, would not be of any meaning if only 4% of 15 and 16-year-olds will enter higher learning institutions. 

It would be BETTER if 96% make it through, wouldn’t it? The onus is now on the government and leaders in education circles to see through the problem and find an immediate solution.  

120 000 Grade 8, 59 000 Grade 10 and 23 200 Grade 12 students To Sit Examinations in 2015

More than 59,000 Grade 10 students in 256 schools will sit for their weeklong School Certificate Examination (SCE) from next week, an official says.

Secretary for Education Dr Uke Kombra said: “We have reduced the national examined subjects from 12 to seven as of this year.

“The other subjects will still be assessed and results will be based on the internal assessment.”

He said the subjects examined are English, mathematics, social science, science, personal development and two optional subjects.

The examinations will be conducted from Oct 12 to 16.

Kombra said preparations for Grade 8, Grade 10 and Grade 12 examinations were well underway.

Grade 10 SEC papers are currently being dispatched to the provinces.

“All provincial education advisers and examination supervisors are urged to ensure that the examination papers are well secured before they are dispatched to the respective schools.

A total of 23,200 Grade 12 students from 146 secondary schools will be sitting for their Higher School Certificate Examinations (HSCE) from Oct 19-30.

“About 120,000 Grade 8 students from 2,663 schools will sit for the Certificate of Basic Education Examinations (COBE) from Nov 2-5.”

Kombra appealed to everyone to support fair conduct of exams and to report any malpractice to school administrations, provincial and national authorities or Police for appropriate action.

“There are strategies already in place to minimise and avoid cheating in schools.

Source: The National, Tuesday October 6th, 2015 || By SHEILA MALKEN

'The wheels of justice have turned, it must continue to turn.' Sam Koim (28/09/2015)

Our team was disbanded, we went to court.

Our officers were terminated, we went to court.

Our funding was withheld, and still is to this day.

Our lawyers were not paid, and still to this day.

In court, they legitimised their positioning on both sides of the bar table and singing the same tune.

We were denied at first, we made it through later.

Yet, instead of fighting the real issues, they still want us out.

We were branded rogue and corrupt; the Courts removed the tag on us and placed it on those who branded us. That the court did –on a number of occasions.

We have fought this, not only on the legal front, but, tyranny and arbitrariness, threats and intimidation, ostracism and pillory, scarcity and defunding.

We have seen lawyers and spin doctors’ alike taking the fight out of the court room and onto the streets, inviting us for a street fight. We disobliged.

Today, we are back in court to seek the Court’s intervention to remove the persona non gratia tag placed on our lawyers. It is beyond believe that in democratic country where the rule of law should be supreme, such is happening.

We wonder how long we will have to go through the quagmire of unending legal battles. They want this fight to have a natural death by stifling us and subjecting us to maintain battles on many fronts. Mind you, we would have relented if it was a personal one. Yes, we may not have the power to compete on these many fronts but the wishes and prayers of our common suffering people are with us. A fair and independent judiciary is the anchor of our hope. The Courts have, on many occasions, vindicated us of our stand for public interest.

The wheels of justice have turned, it must continue to turn.

Those who unjustly exert interference to the turning wheel do not escape judgement. We have and will continue to witness, as long as the wheels continue to turn.