Anti-corruption resource materials launched

National, Normal
Source:

BARNABAS ORERE PONDROS

ANTI-corruption watchdog Transparency International (PNG) Inc, and its partners, launched civic education resource materials for schools with the aim of indoctrinating students on good governance and citizenship, among other issues.
A teacher resource book, a student reader and six posters on Government, citizenship and good governance were inaugurated last Friday and will be circulated to 250 schools nationwide.
In the student’s reader, there are 15 topics covering citizenship, human rights, rule of law, and civil society.
The reader has matching themes in the teacher hand book. 
Ideally, students will read each topic and do simple tasks outlined in hypothetical situations. 
The colourful posters portray cartoons using simple English about everyday situations, pointing out what is right from wrong.
The materials have been piloted in 56 schools around PNG and have been a success.
Layout and design of the materials was done by Uramina and Nelson with creative designs depicting various situations about Government, citizenship and good governance.
Publishing the books was the end result of a tireless two-year effort by a TI project team who supported by teachers around PNG and given technical advice from AusAID.
It was funded by the United Nations Development Programme. 
Project manager Guim Kagl said the production of these materials was a way of reaching out to the community and educating the future generation on civic education.
“It is envisaged the materials would assist a new way of thinking for students at primary and high schools,” she said. 
TIPNG chairman Peter Aitsi explained that these materials were designed to support the new outcomebased curriculum and was a key advocacy tool for  TI.
“Civic education is a key part of our advocacy tool and is an area we have spent much time on it as it is about developing a new and improved value system for our coming generation,” he said.
The strategy is about buiding coalition as corruption is widespread an
Mr Aitsi urged head teachers to contact TIPNG and find out how to apply for them.
He noted that it is important that these materials be distributed and put to good use as many times, resources get produced but were not used.
“They remain of no value if they are not activated and implemented,” he raised. 
UNDP delegate Andrew Lepani reiterated the remarks and said the UN agency would continue to support worthy initiatives because corruption remains a constant hurdle to development.
“Corruption fosters an anti democratic environment characterised by uncertainty, unpredictability and declining morale values,” he said.