Nembou: Many challenges in teaching

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday 29th November 2011

by GYNNIE KERO
TEACHING is the oldest profession and with it comes many challenges in terms of difficulties to be faced and dedication required, 230 graduating students from Divine Word University’s Faculty of Education, St Benedict’s campus in Wewak, East Sepik, heard on Wednesday.
University vice-president Port Moresby campus Dr Cecilia Nembou spoke on the multiple roles of being a primary school teacher in the country.
“Papua New Guinea is a pluralistic society with diverse ethnic cultures and tribal groupings with which comes many challenges for the beginning teacher whose major role is to bring about the holistic formation of a child,” she said.
Nembou said curriculum designers could set up the most comprehensive curriculum but it was up to a teacher to determine the quantum and quality of formal knowledge a child was exposed to.
She said teachers had the most important role of imparting content knowledge, skills and attitudes transmittable under the formal education mode.
She said besides being classroom-teachers, they could serve as conflict mediators, social counsellors, cultural change agents and become vital in the life of a child.
Wewak campus vice-president Dr Fr Patrick Gesch congratulated the 230 students and encouraged them to go out and serve others despite the challenges they might face as teachers.
St Benedict is a truly national campus with 17 provinces represented and it hopes to start the Bachelor in Education programme in 2013.