Govt not changing outcome-based education system: Minister

THE Government will not deviate from the current education policy to reintroduce the standard-based education system in the country.
Minister for Education Joseph Yopyyopy told Parliament yesterday that while so much had been spent on outcome-based education, particularly the elementary sector, the Government’s decision remained, that all schools in the country should fully implement the policy by end of next year.
Markham MP Koni Iguan wanted the Government to reconsider its decision to bring back the elementary school system as many MPs and parents had spent a lot of money into building elementary schools throughout the country.
He also said the elementary schools were established closer to the villages while the elementary school teachers had spent a lot of money to get themselves trained.
However, he said with the phasing out of the elementary schools, the hard work of the parents, and the resources spent on training elementary teachers, would be a waste with the reintroduction of standard-based education.
Chimbu Governor Michael Dua said elementary schools were well established and rooted in the education system and reverting to the old system was not good and the Government should not try to change things around. Yopyyopy said the standard of education in the country had dropped drastically.
He said children who had come through the outcome-based education system could not even speak or write in good English language.
He said because of the drop in the standard, the O’Neill-government had phased out the outcome-based education system and reintroduced the standard-based education system which was a universal learning process for all schools in the country.
He said many of the educated population like the members of Parliament have come out through the old system and they want the standard based education to be reintroduced in the country.
The minister said he would present a ministerial statement in this session of parliament.