Look at drop in standards, MP says

 By MARGARET TALINGAPUA

DRASTIC measures must be taken to address the alarming decrease in the standard of education in the country, according to Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang.

Kulang told parliament that reports on the number of children missing out on education in the country was shameful and the Government must take an aggressive approach to address the issue.

Kulang had called on the Government last week to do away with Grades 8 and 10 examinations and allow all students to reach Grade 12.

He suggested that a state of emergency similar to the one declared for PNG Power Ltd be done on education to improve its standard.

Minister for Higher Education Malakai Tabar suggested that all MPs should go back to their districts and find out how many children were not attending school and for what reasons.

“These children who are not in school belong to a family and that family belongs to a community which belongs to your district,” he said.

“Some of us in this House are not doing our job on fixing some of the problems in our districts.”

Tabar said the report that close to one million children were not attending school was alarming.

His department was working to get more institutions opened for students to go through all levels of education up to university or college.