Australians help PNGEI open elementary teacher training facility

THE Papua New Guinea Education Institute (PNGEI) has received a facelift from the Australian government to the tune of K6.3 million.
This was funding for the construction of facilities, which include classrooms, dormitories and kitchens for students in the Certificate in Elementary Teacher Training programme, which is a residential course.
Australia’s parliamentary secretary for Pacific Island affairs Richard Marles launched the resident teacher elementary training facility yesterday to coincide with World Teachers’ Day in Port Moresby.
He said during the official hand-over of the facility by the Australian government to PNGEI that the facility would contribute to the cause of educating PNG’s young generation.
The construction of the teacher training facility was part of the PNG-Australia partnership for development.
This partnership states that Australia will support PNG education in six key areas:
*Infrastructure support;
*Providing textbooks and education materials;
*Supplementing PNG government subsidies;
*Supporting teacher education and training;
*Supporting school management and inspections; and
*Strengthening education management.
Teaching and learning governing council chairman Dr Michael Tapo thanked the Australian government for its commitment and looked forward to further partnership endeavours with Australia.