Equip education system to harvest talents, says Marape

The National National
Education Minister Joseph Yopyyopy (left) and Prime Minister James Marape at the launching of the national schools of excellence policy in Port Moresby on Monday. – Picture courtesy of PM’s Media Unit

PRIME Minister James Marape says the education system should be geared at harvesting the talent of young people.
“Our education system must be designed and geared towards harvesting the natural talent, acumen and propensity of the children in our schools,” he said.
Marape launched the national schools of excellence policy at the Port Moresby National High School on Monday.
The policy focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem).
He initiated it when he was the education minister in 2009.
“Who says that the structured, rigid education system we have is the only way to progress?” Marape said.
“We must be flexible enough to ensure that the child feels that he or she is learning what he or she is gifted in.”
He said the Education Department must be versatile to embrace the values of a child “and not the rigidness to chuck (the child) out without imparting anything of value” to him or her.
The Department of Education has been tasked to introduce the school of excellence concept in six national high schools – Sogeri, Aiyura, Passam, Kerevat, Wawin and Port Moresby – as well as selected secondary schools throughout the country.