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But it is ominous PNG’s education system is undergoing four changes since Tuition Free Fee
policy was introduced without clear guidelines. This is a recipe for disaster.
It is better to avoid repeating mistakes encountered when implementing Outcome
Based Education (OBE). This is a generational change. It must be thought through
properly.
Lack of planning was obvious before school started. First, Papua
New Guinea did not have a 10 year education plan to date. National Education
Plan 2005 – 2014 (NEP 2005 – 2014) lapsed last year. If there was a committee working
on it, why was it not out?
A 10-year plan is crucial. It puts in perspective a working
plan for all stakeholders to follow. It would be better if NEP 2015 – 2024 was made
available to everyone sooner rather than later.
The second change is the change is structure, Two-Six-Six:
two years of elementary school, six years of primary school and six years of
secondary school. I highlighted differences between new and old structures in
an earlier post.
The education system is expecting a structural readjustment –
just how this will happen is as important as when it will happen. The education
minister mentioned that structural change will take effect next year, 2016.
However, it would be better if he stated how NDoE would roll it out nationwide.
The third change is the change is curriculum. Make no mistake,
reverting to Standard Based Curriculum (from Outcome Based Curriculum) is change
in educational curriculum. It is about changing educational instruction – the way
works is done. So, what kind of instruction is changing? What unit (or topic,
or objective, etc.) is changing? What makes it different to OBE? How can
stakeholders, including teachers, compare and contrast OBE to SBE? It is better
to give answers to those questions to clarify misunderstanding, is it not?
The final change that needs taking place is implementation
of 12 recommendations made by Parliamentary Referral Committee on Education (PRCE)
on teachers’ welfare. Ganim report
cannot be left to gather dust. The education minister has to table this report.
Parliament must deliberate on it findings. There is never a better time to hear
our teachers’ cries than now.
All in all, since the government’s Tuition Free Fee policy
started, the education system has got its fair share of battering. It is time
to put in motion a clear plan of action and reward our teachers properly.
