I wish to refer to Peter Kini’s letter (The National Feb 4), about “The lack of Planning” with reference to elementary schools.
I would like to comment about his view that some elementary school teachers are Grade 6, 8, 10 and 12 dropouts.
Although these teachers may be poorly educated, some of them are doing wonderful jobs.
Because this is what keeps them busy, they give undivided attention to what they do.
Some of our kids have got the best from these so-called dropouts and the results speak for themselves.
Whilst some university graduates or teachers’ college graduates are looking around for black market money, chewing buai or playing pokies, many dropouts are doing his/her job.
A classical example is my daughter who has never been to another school. She only did two years of elementary school at Waigani Christian Pre-School and is now able to read a newspaper and a paperback book (novel).
When we migrated to Australia, she had to skip Grade 1, 2, 3 and 4 and is now in Year Five because her teachers here have found her literacy and numeracy standards to be very high.
Hows that? I give credit to elementary teachers at Waigani Christian Pre-School. You know why?
The pay levels are irrelevant and education levels are irrelevant if one is committed and determined to achieve good results.
I am sure not all Waigani Pre-School Elementary teachers are teachers college graduates or university graduates.
However, they are God-fearing, dedicated, committed and selfless, that is why they always produce the best.
So why are you whinging, mate? If your child is not doing well in elementary school, as parents, you are the first teachers at home, what are you doing about it? Doing nothing about it, expecting the elementary teacher to do it all for you? Too bad mate! Education reforms take time, you are in PNG, be real.
 

Barbara Beaton
Darwin City
Top End Australia.