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By JULIA DAIA BORE
UNICEF’s country representative Hamish Young yesterday called on the PNG
Government to provide its full and financial support for the abolition
of primary school fees in the country.
“Because as we all know, this is one of the biggest blocks of children
going to school,” Mr Young said yesterday.
“So long as these fees exist, attempts to fast track universal primary
education will inevitably remain stifled in PNG in spite of the
Government’s many policies to protect children’s basic human rights.”
Mr Young exemplified the Government’s recent approval of the Lukautim
Pikinini Act passed in April, which demonstrates a responsive approach
to applying international standards to child protection in the local
context by focusing on community based non-discriminatory protection.
He, however, said without the removal of the major blockage that stops
children’s advancement through education, PNG’s children would remain
deprived of their basic human rights.
Mr Young was speaking as the first guest speaker at the Department of
Community Development’s inaugural lecture series on Critical Community
Development Issues launched yesterday by the Minister for Community
Development Dame Carol Kidu in Port Moresby.
Dame Carol said these public lectures were intended to begin dialogue
amongst policy makers and people with an interest in community
development.
It was a first of the series of lectures that will be held once every
six months, Dame Carol and the Secretary of Community Development Joseph
Klapat said.
The lectures will look at sharing ideas about the directions of
integrated community development and ensuring that the department
provide a public spotlight on community development issues.
 
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