Morobe to roll out FODE programme to district schools

 THE Morobe education division will roll out the flexible open and distance education (FODE) tutorial programme in its eight rural districts next year.

Provincial education adviser Keith Jiram said the province had initiated the tutorial programme and piloted it in five secondary schools in Lae. The programme was launched in April at the Malahang Technical High, Busu, Bumayong, Lae and Bugandi secondary schools.

The programme has seen more than 3000 students enrolling at its five centres this year.

 “The programme was initiated to cut down on the number of school dropouts after 9502 students from the 15,911 who sat for the Grades eight, 10 and 12 examinations in the province did not continue last year,” Jiram said.

He said the programme would help take in school leavers. “Morobe education division is hoping to see better results this year and have targeted zero dropouts in all grades because the FODE programme would take in the ones not having the space,” he said. 

Sharon Mathias, the Morobe centre director said: “The FODE course materials were usually supplied from Port Moresby but since the launching, the provincial government through the provincial administration has bought four duplicating machines for K120,000 for the centre 

to duplicate its own course materials.”