Expat joins Enga college

 By PHILIP KEPSON

THE recently established Enga Teachers’ College has a new expatriate lecturer to add value to its current staff strength.

He is Brian Westerman from Yorkshire, England.

Westerman, who has a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of York, has joined the teaching staff of college, through the Voluntary Service Overseas. 

He was one of eight new expatriate teachers who arrived in Papua New Guinea this year to serve the country through education.

College principal Michael Homingu described Westerman’s arrival as “valuable and morale boosting”.

He said the lecturer would also be involved in curriculum writing for the country apart from carrying out his teaching duties.

“With Westerman joining my teaching staff it will add value to the new college and boosts our morale in the overall teacher training programme,” he said.

Westerman, who has taught in various schools in London for the past nine years, said he was happy to be with ETC as his main reason for joining VSO was to go out to the remotest part of world to learn about new cultures.

He said the beautiful scenes of Papua New Guinea’s physical features, including mountains, rivers, virgin rain forest and traditional lifestyle and dressing costumes which he saw on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary programmes had compelled him to come to the country.

“The beautiful scenes I have watched on BBC documentary programmes inspired me to come to PNG. 

“This is a beautiful place to visit. I will learn as much as I can about the culture of Papua New Guinea, mainly the Engan culture before going back to England,” he said.

Westerman will be at the college for two years before leaving in 2015 after his engagement contract expires.