Childhood education concern

Education

EARLY childhood education should be promoted and encoraged in Papua New Guinea because it provides the basic foundation for education, retired principal Bernadette Ove says.
“Children should first be taught the basics of reading, writing and learning at home before they go to formal education,” She said. Ove said early childhood education would help raise interest and prepare children for schools, colleges and tertiary education.
“After 42 years of teaching in secondary and high schools, I understand the lower levels and other divisions within the Education Department in general. I have experienced the education evolution in administration and issues that emerged from different reforms over the years,” she said.
“The different curriculum reforms, the objectives and outcomes, and now the department is again reviewing and changing its policies.” Ove said teachers face various hurdles to achieve education quality and academic excellence that included attitude, learning environment, facilities, infrastructure for teacher training and the main one, is the lack of funding from Government.
She said parents should recognise their all-important role and responsibilities in education.
“Parents need to buy text books and provide other resources for their children,” she said.
“The Government and the department also need to recognise their responsibility in infrastructure maintenance and upgrades.”