Govt needs to support education

By HELEN TARAWA
THE Government has a responsibility to continue to make education more accessible, People’s National Congress party leader Peter O’Neill says.
While acknowledging that the focus of the current term of Parliament had been on increasing the quality of teacher training and construction of more teachers colleges, O’Neill said the Government needed to create every opportunity for all young Papua New Guineans.
“As our population grows, and we have more children entering school age, we must have enough schools and teachers,” O’Neill said.
“We must create every opportunity for all young Papua New Guineans to take advantage of better opportunities and to be our future doctors, engineers, pilots and elected leaders.”
In reference to the healthcare, O’Neill said the Government needed to maintain focus as there was still more work to be done.
He said the Government had delivered safer and more secure communities through a multi-layered approach focusing on police, the judiciary and correctional services.
“We improved discipline in the police and military and we came down hard on those who disrespected the oaths they had made.
“We strengthened all levels of courts right down to the village court level, employed more judges, provided better training to court officials and constructed better court buildings,” he said.
O’Neill said one of the greatest issues facing the Government today was establishing a lasting peace on Bougainville.
“Together we have achieved a great deal since peace talks began under the leadership of former Prime Minister Bill Skate.
“We must work together to ensure the requirements of the Bougainville Peace Agreement are met, that there is real weapons disposal, and we must strengthen good governance.”