Education board in place

THE Morobe provincial education board (PEB) has officially sworn in their new members.
During the swearing-in ceremony at the Melanesian Hotel last Friday, provincial education adviser Murika Bihoro acknowledged the contribution of church agencies in education development in the province.
“Your (church’s) representation on the board is very important.
“Historically, it was the churches that established schools in the province and we recognise that 80% of schools in the province are church-run,” Mr Bihoro said.
The new PEB has three church representatives, from the Catholics, Sr Maljerah; Evangelical Lutheran’s Wayne Awasa; and the Seventh-Day Adventist’s Lameck Sokoropa.
The other 10 members come from a cross-section of the community including companies, parents, youth and teachers.
They will serve a term of three years.
Mr Bihoro also guaranteed the support of the education division in ensuring that the board would be run effectively and efficiently.
“The board would be guided by the provincial education plan 2007-16 and all members are urged to read the plan and raise issues where necessary.
“The province has the highest number of schools in the country and the board has to drive education to another level,” he said.
The board would be chaired by the Morobe provincial administrator Kemas Tomala and would function under the Morobe Provincial Education Board Act of 1996.