DoE’s efforts worth noting
Peter Kini’s letter claiming that Education Department (DoE) is not planning well needs challenging. Obviously, the writer is not aware of efforts being made by DoE to address various issues confronting education. DoE’s policy on recruitment of elementary teachers does not allow for Grade 6 leavers and there is a formal training programme that elementary teachers have to undertake before they are registered. Further, the Early Childhood Programme to train elementary teachers in teachers colleges demonstrates DoE’s commitment in addressing the challenges of education reform. Lastly, many donors and international agencies have commended DoE executives on the extensiveness and the high quality of the National Education Plan (2004-2015). The challenge confronting the DoE is how well it is going to implement the plan, and this depends on the extent to which the Government is prepared to provide the level of resources required. – Education reform supporter, via email

Hagen schools queried
If the principals and their deputies at the three major secondary schools in Western Highlands have been demoted as reported recently, there should be exceptionally good reasons why the Provincial Education Board (PEB) made those decisions. I attended Mt Hagen Secondary for four years and during those years I have never had my principal demoted nor have I heard of principals and their deputies from other schools demoted at the same time. Is this because crony appointments are about to be made? I have learnt also that the current PEB may themselves be political cronies with questionable qualifications. I appeal to the Minister for Education and the National Education Board to review the whole appointment process and to revoke the new appointments since the existing principals and their managements have done a good job in teaching and managing Mount Hagen Secondary, Hagen Park Secondary, and Fatima Secondary. – Concerned Citizen, Port Moresby

Dismayed over school closure
As a parent of a school child, I am dismayed at the closure of the Lae YMCA Elementary School (Buablung Haus). This school has served a lot of working parents, particularly those in the low to middle level income earners in Lae city. Closing this vital school is a disservice not only to the parents, it will adversely affect our young children’s education. While parents in the upper income bracket can afford to send children to well-established pre-schools, low-income earners have been disadvantaged by the school’s closure. I humbly request that this decision be reconsidered with a view to reopening the school once again. – Concerned Parent, Lae