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Elementary confusion
I AM appalled by the fact that elementary teachers graduate after six months
of training and go straight into teaching. These teachers end up in the
remote parts of the provinces. One would wonder if such a brief course is
enough for the most challenging part of teaching, where every aspect of a
child has to be tamed and mind sharpened for the foundation of his or her
education life. There is no unified structure in the curriculum. For
example, if the Education Department is serious about it, then formulate
only one language from a database of all the vernacular languages and make
it applicable throughout the nation so that it will not generate confusion.
As it is, we are just confusing their little minds at the most critical part
of their cognitive development. Previously, I have no intention of sending
my children to an international school but I am now seriously considering it
in order to avoid confusing my children. Unless the Education Department
acts quickly, I believe more and more parents would follow suit upon
realisation of the mentioned deficiencies. – Concerned father, Kimbe
More competition, please!
COMPETITION in the telecommunication industry has been embraced even by the
grassroots people in the remote villages for a simple reason – the consumers
are the winners. For ages Papua New Guineans have been made to part with
their hard-earned income by an ineffective, ill-run and mismanaged monopoly
called Telikom PNG. With competition in the industry, customers are now
getting what they should have been entitled to ages ago – quality service,
effective network coverage and at affordable price. We want more competition
in all industries. – Maus man, Port Moresby
Simbu’s future in education
UNLIKE other provinces, Simbu is a densely populated, rugged and mountainous
province that does not have oil, gas, copper, timber, coffee and other
valuable resources. The provincial town has not expanded since it was first
built during the colonial days and so the chances of attracting investors
are low. All successive provincial governments have not provided the
leadership and management needed by this province to attract investors. The
internal provincial revenue compared with other provinces is among the
lowest. Many Simbu parents have realised the limitation of the province and
joined other parents in this country by sending their children to schools.
Many Simbu students have come to take the disadvantage of their province as
a challenge to excel in their studies. I therefore, call on all Simbu MPs to
put your heads together and make education for Simbu students a top
priority. – Bomai D Witne, Goroka
Probe Parlt refurbishing fund
THE Ombudsman Commission and the fraud squad should investigate the K10
million set aside for refurbishing Parliament because it is the taxpayers’
money. The people of Papua New Guinea must know what happened to their
money. The Speaker Jeffrey Nape must not hide behind Parliament privileges
and make elusive remarks about the money. I think the Public Accounts
Committee should also investigate the Speaker in regards to this issue as it
raised a lot of questions. This is a serious matter and it must be
investigated. It’s a lot of money and we cannot just sit back and see our
leaders abusing our money. – Smith Momino, Port Moresby
Research funds welcome
I COMMEND the OHE for coming to the aid of researchers at last. We hope the
money promised could be pumped into the heart and soul of industrialisation.
No country can advance without research and development into science and
technology. Advances and products from science and technology create jobs
for all sectors. Such investment will at least, contribute in part to
reversing the current trend of brain drain of scientists, engineers,
doctors, tradesmen and other professionals from PNG. I suggest money is set
aside to improve the capacity of research institutions as well. PNG can be
up there with the best. It does not lack brainpower, it is the lack of
resources that is incapacitating. Well done, Dr Kichawen! – Boga Figa,
Townsville, Queensland
Reduce withdrawal fee
BSP is providing an efficient service but I feel that it is “robbing” the
average account holder of their limited income. The K4 automatic withdrawal
imposed by the BSP is too much for poor account holders like us students,
where we get an average of K100. I appeal to BSP to reduce the rate. –
David Aina, Lae
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