Cocoa curriculum for schools in New Britain

 THE Education Department is responsible for developing curriculum in schools but does not have specialists in all industry-based areas to support content input in curriculum development, a workshop has been told.

An in-service workshop was held for agriculture teachers piloting a cocoa curriculum for five schools in East New Britain.

It was in partnership with the department and the agriculture sector to develop a curriculum.

The aim is to help students many of whom will be school leavers about basic cocoa knowledge.

The curriculum was developed by the PNG Cocoa and Coconut Institute Ltd and the Education department.

Alfred Nongkas, director of the institute’s information management and communication programme said the coffee curriculum was a success story of partnership.

He said the curriculum has the potential in extending information, skills and knowledge to a much wider target group. He said with a few extension officers available today, young people would not only have knowledge and skills on cocoa management practices but could impart it to their families.