The academic year 2015 started. Talks about change in
Education structure and curriculum have taken a back seat. So, what is the
latest development? Well nothing much is happening: there is no news on
National Education Plan 2015 – 2024 yet; not much has been said about 2-6-6
structural change; Education Department has not released weekly update on
Standard Based Curriculum it promised. Everything seemed to have come to a standstill.
Ideally, NEP 2015 – 2024 would have come out by now. But
this plan remains to be seen. Is there anything done about it? No one knows
yet.
Education Minister responded to questions in the first
parliament sitting 2015 that structural change (2-6-6) will take effect next
year. There is very little information about how the change will take place. No
doubt this change will require adjustment to ‘transitional stages’. By this I
mean, transition from 2 to 6 (Grade 2 – 3) and 6 to 6 (Grade 8 – 9).
Adjustment to the current structure must take place for
2-6-6 structural change to work. It sounds too good: 2 years of elementary, 6
years of primary and 6 years of secondary. But, wait a minute?
What would become of the current elementary schools? What would
happen to primary schools with their Grades 7 and 8? How would secondary schools
cope with Grades 7,8,9,10,11 and 12?
Where does Standard Based Education factor in all these
changes? At what stage do students sit examinations? What are the examination subjects?
What key learning objectives are tested? What is needed now is DETAIL. Where is
the detail?
There are more questions to ask then answers. Papua New
Guinean schools are halfway into term 1 and yet rest of the year is shrouded in
anticipation – anticipation for a clear plan for a better education system.
Someone, somewhere has to take the lead. Unfortunately, the
onus is on leaders in Education Department. They should try harder
to get the changes right the first time. NDoE secretary and Education Minister
have to take a proactive role. They must address these issues urgently, today.
1: Publish national education plan for the next 10 years
2: Give details of the structural changes
3: Give details of the Standard Based Curriculum
4: Identify examination years and give details of examined
subjects
5: Clearly explain what would happen to National High
Schools (Schools of Excellence) and at Primary and Secondary schools.
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