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By MADELEINE AREK
THEIR eyes and faces are turned to the board.
The place is quiet, only the voice of teacher Abby pierces
the silence.
She speaks to them in the local vernacular-Yabim, and the
children eagerly respond. The same lesson is repeated in Tok
Pisin and English- the use of the two languages essential
for the successful implementation of the Elementary
Education Reforms in PNG.
These early learners at Sipaia Elementary School,
enthusiastically attend school everyday, unaware of the
daily struggle teacher Abby Joseph endures.
Hers is a struggle that 279 other first year elementary
school teachers in Morobe province have endured throughout
the whole of last year- teaching without being paid their
allowances.
The K62.00 fortnightly allowance was not paid simply because
their summary and duty resumption forms for 2007, along with
other documents needed by the Teachers Services Commission
and Papua New Guinea Education Institute to register them on
the payroll are still sitting in a tray at the provincial
education office.
Who is to blame for this administrative bungle?
Provincial Elementary Teacher Training Coordinator Berei
Kalo is aware of the situation and sympathizes with the
teachers but he adds,
“There were a lot of mistakes with the forms. Many of these
teachers did not fill them out correctly. We had to double
check them and that took time. They are fixed now however
have to be cited by the advisor before they are taken down
to Port Moresby, most probably at the end of the month.
“I am fully aware of the problem and sympathise with them. I
also want to advice them that I am doing everything I can so
that they get paid their allowances, backdated to January
2007, before the end of term one” Mr. Kalo said.
Despite this setback, many of the teachers, because of their
passion and unwavering belief in early childhood education-
that a child’s character is shaped during the time they are
aged between three and seven years- continued to teach.
Abby Joseph speaks of her situation, “I have three children.
Elsie my eldest daughter is supposed to be in Grade 10 at
Malahang Technical High School. My son Joe and younger
daughter Joycelynne are supposed to be doing grades six and
three respectively however they can not attend school
because there is no money to pay school fees. My husband has
been out of a paid job since 2006 and although I am working,
I can do nothing about it.
“It’s frustrating. You want to provide for your family, you
are in a position to provide for them, but yet you can’t.
It’s mind boggling. Why should me and my family pay the
price for someone else’s negligence.
“In the past year, there were times when situations were so
bad that I wanted to quit. I’d tell myself if it wasn’t
today, it would be tomorrow. I’d walk out of the classroom
and not look back, however I could never get myself to do
it.
“Those big brown eyes in those innocent little faces that
eagerly awaited my presence in the mornings were too much
for me. I could never leave them and make them suffer for
something that was no fault of theirs.
“I never left,” said Ms Joseph.
Ms Joseph believes that if there was anyone who could make a
difference in the lives of these young people in her
semi-urban village, she could.
And while it may not be much, it would probably one day save
their lives and help them make choices that would benefit
them later on in life.
“I believe that the lessons a child learns early in life are
imprinted in their minds. The child also grows up having a
zest and zeal for learning. This passion for learning does
not stop and develops as the child grows older.
“The child not only matures intellectually, they also build
character, becoming mature as they grow,” said Ms Joseph.
In 1996, the Morobe Provincial Education division
implemented the Elementary Education Reforms. Over time,
significant changes have taken place. The curriculum has
been refined and there is a capacity building program in
place where teachers undergo six weeks of intense Trainer
Director Training for six weeks every year for three years
to be registered with the PNGEI as a provisional teacher
restricted to teaching elementary schools.
Apart from this training, the teachers are graded on their
performance in the community, because elementary education
is a community oriented program and they also undergo
supervised teaching.
Ms Joseph is passionate about her job. And while she may not
be on the payroll that has not stopped her from teaching her
prep class and doing bridging for students in elementary two
at the village school.
I asked her what motivated her so much that even not being
on the payroll for the whole of last year did nothing to
stop her from teaching.
“Nothing is more rewarding than the joy you get from seeing
a child’s face light up. It’s satisfying to know that I have
been a part of these young children’s development, that I
have in one way or another impacted their lives.”
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