Governor says PNG history must be prioritised, taught in schools

PAPUA New Guinea history must be prioritised and taught in schools, says New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan.
Sir Julius said this during the opening of a week-long in-service programme for teachers at the New Hanover High School on Konamatalik in the Lavongai local level government (LLG) last Monday.
The 81-year-old, who served multiple terms as prime minister, said instead of in depth PNG history, the history of other countries was being taught.
“History is one of those subjects that is very important,” he said.
“We need to teach our students our own history too.”
Sir Julius urged the teachers and education staff present at the in-service to not only teach students subjects from the West, but to also teach PNG’s history the way Papua New Guineans experienced it.
He told the teachers that they had the power to inspire and motivate children through learning, but it was important that they taught more of them more about their country and its own history.
“All of the most powerful people, all of the most successful people, all of them had the thirst for knowledge instilled in them in their first years of education,” he said.
“If they hadn’t, they would not be where they are today,” he said.
Sir Julius said these people owed their life’s achievements to one or two elementary school teachers who got them excited about learning.
“That is the greatest effect anyone can have on a small child,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sir Julius said the New Ireland government planned to upgrade more high schools to secondary schools next year.