Papua New Guinea Covid-19 Update - Total Cases and Deaths

Here is a brief update of Covid-19 cases and deaths in PNG since January 2021. The data is compiled from the Official PNG Govt Covid-19 website. There is an exponential increase in the number of cases in the first quarter of 2021. The deaths are at 1% of the cases recorded. See the table at the end of this post.

30 March 2021 Covid-19 Update 

PNG has recorded 5,620 Covid-19 cases and 56 known deaths on 30th March 2021. Of the 56 deaths, 

• 44 in NCD, 
• 3 in West Sepik,
• 2 each in WNB, 
• 2 WHP and 
• 2 Western Province,
• 1 Enga,
• 1 Jiwaka and 
• 1 Morobe province.

27 February 2021 Covid-19 Update 

PNG reported 47 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday 26 February, increasing the country’s total cases to 1,275 and the total number of deaths from COVID-19 to 13.

The latest cases were reported in 

• West Sepik, 
• West New Britain, 
• East New Britain,
• Central, East Sepik and in the
•  National Capital District.

31 January 2021 Covid-19 Update 

As of January 31, there has been 895 COVID-19 cases and 9 deaths reported in PNG. From the period of February 1 to 7, there have been 28 new cases:

• 15 from WNB, 
• 7 from Western,
• 3 from the NCD,
• 1 from New Ireland, 
• 1 from Central Province, and 
• 1 from Madang.

Weekly Updates - April 2021

Confirmed coronavirus cases (as of Monday 1st April 2021) is 6,475 confirmed cases with 60 deaths across the country. 

According to the Official Covid-19 website(covid19.info.gov.pg), the 5 provinces with the highest number of Covid-19 cases are:

• NCD  – 2, 945
• Western  –1,472
• West New Britain – 201
• West Sepik  – 327
• Morobe  – 262

See the complete Covid-19 cases and deaths in PNG here.

Summary table of Cases and Deaths

Here is the data table for the graph. As mentioned, The deaths are at 1% of the cases recorded. See the table below.

STEM Education in Papua New Guinea (PNG)

What is STEM? 

What is STEM Education and Why STEM Education? How can you plan, assess, and teach an integrated STEM approach?

These questions and many more really got me thinking when I first heard Hon. James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG) announce on media at the beginning of 2020 that STEM education will be implemented in PNG.

This was before I took the Graduate Certificate in STEM Education at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), funded by the Australian Government through the Australia Awards at the beginning of 2020.

I was an educationist working with the Papua New Guinea National Department of Education, participating mainly in curriculum development, training and curriculum implementation through media and digital technologies.,

Being one of the awardees of the Australia Awards short course, I am honoured to say that through this program.

I have learned a lot more than I expected. I even experienced new technologies introduced to us. The short course really contributed a lot to my personal and professional growth. It was even timely with the current curriculum reform the PNG education system is undergoing.

Here is more information of STEM and SBC, click here to find out

Standards-based curriculum (SBC) development

DOWNLOAD THE SBC SYLLABUS

Currently, the education department through the curriculum division is in the process of developing a new reformed curriculum called the standards-based curriculum (SBC) to replace the outcomes-based curriculum (OBC). 

With the right timing, and from the experiences and vast content knowledge and skills gained through this short course on STEM education, I managed to contribute in some ways to the curriculum development process by embedding STEM concepts, principles and processes in the SBC curriculum documents (syllabuses and teacher guides) mainly for upper primary and secondary sectors.

The lower primary and elementary SBC documents were developed prior to the introduction of STEM education. However, elementary and lower primary teachers have been advised to apply an integrated approach.

STEM Impact Website

I have established a website that shows more details on the progress and impact of my work in STEM. You may access it through this link: https://malachaihenrynatha.wixsite.com/impact-stories

I cannot thank QUT, my STEM lecturers and the Australian Government enough for the learning opportunity, the knowledge and the skills I learned from the short course. 

My story is evidence of that opportunity of how the course has transformed and contributed to my personal and professional growth. Once again, thank you QUT and the Australian Government.

Disclaimer: This article appears on QUT Impact Stories, written by Malachai Nathaniel, Papua New Guinea. You can visit his website via the link.

DOWNLOAD THE SBC SYLLABUS