Big changes for Jiwaka schools

ALL high schools and community schools in the Jiwaka region will face many changes in their learning standards during the next 10 years.
All the high schools will be converted into technical high, community schools to primary.
No changes will take place for secondary schools.
Jiwaka Transitional Authority (JTA) chairman Philip Kapal revealed this at Nondugl, North Waghi in the Jiwaka region of Western Highlands last Thursday.
Kapal said this was the education policy for the new province and this was likely to take place, adding that education will play a vital role in Jiwaka when it separates from Western Highlands in 2012.
He said the aim and vision of the new province was to change the standard of the education so that it would help a lot in developing the region’s human resource.
Kapal said when the province had its own budget in 2013, money would be made available to push for these changes.
He explained that with these changes, if a Grade 10 student dropped out for example, he or she would have skills in technical areas and would have a better chance at finding employment.
Kapal, who is also a former Western Highlands premier, said many schools would also be built in the villages so that communities would appreciate that their children would not have to travel long distances to go to school, and, therefore, take responsibility and look after the facilities.
He said currently, the region did not have any money for the project, but he guaranteed that it would take place.
He also said the new policy would help a lot of parents because after graduating from any high school, their children would be equipped with technical skills including engineering, carpentry and mechanics.