Better reform needed to teach English

PAPUA New Guinea uses three official languages in its everyday dealing – English, Tok Pisin and Motu.
Having these three languages doesn’t mean everyone use them everywhere.
English is preferred in official hours at work places, schools and a few homes.
That is to say that, written English does not necessarily matter but the spoken English does matters.
What is pronunciation?
The Oxford Advanced Learner’s (7th Edition) puts it this way: pronunciation is the way in which a language or a particular word or sound is pronounced.
A teachers who taught English was once interviewed at Wewak Hill in East Sepik about the mispronunciation of English language, word or perhaps sounds.
He said, “I taught and teach English and try all my very best to fix or probably minimise it, however, this problem is still a concern at the moment.
“It has become ‘a snake in the grass’ for English users at almost all level of the nation.”
He said that part of the buck should be shifted down to teachers who were teaching English in lower and upper primary schools.
“The foundation of our students are not well laid or probably nourished before they are being selected to come to high schools and beyond,” he said.
Given that scenario, it’s very timely that the Education Department through its “think tanks” or so-called educationists should come up with a workable curriculum to suit our students’ need.
There’s a saying that goes, “the root of education is bitter but the fruit of it is sweet”.
Our children need more drills on phonics and should be emphasised at the preparatory to primary levels and even at higher learning institutions such as teachers colleges or universities.
Are we just going to act as if nothing is wrong with our children’s essential knowledge and skills development?
Or are we going to do something about that and not deprive them quality education?
Over to you education minister.

Shonwunakas @ Maprik, Via email