Policy excludes improvement programme, says Solulu

THE free education policy does not include the schools learning and improvement programme which is also part of the country’s education system, according to an education official.
And it is causing confusion among schools trying to implement both.
Joe Solulu, acting provincial programme advisor for education in Morobe, said that while officiating on Monday at the opening of the two-week training of technical and vocational school managers on administration and financial management at the PNG Education Institute in Lae.
Solulu said because of this, the government had enforced the K200 project fee under the free education policy  this year.
He said it was one area which should be sorted out. But despite the challenges, school managers and boards should move forward through such training.
 He pointed out that it was important for TVET instructors and managers to know the programme which involved collaboration with the communities in planning, raising funds and developing schools in terms of meeting their goals.
Solulu said financial management was difficult to learn and practise and was the reason behind the incomplete projects and development in schools.
“In this area, most schools are not in tune with the department,” Solulu said.
Managers of technical and vocational schools play a very important role and commended the developments in that sector under provincial technical and vocational education training coordinator Igea Yassa.
He said the TVET sector should have been the main area of focus but was least prioritised and neglected for so long and some of the oversight included training and housing for officers.