Principal calls for unity in bid to achieve education targets

The National Education

By THOMAS HUKAHU
A SCHOOL principal in Kevieng is excited about the 2019 school year and programmes it will facilitate with provincial government and other schools.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart International School principal Jo Martin welcomed New Ireland education officials, educators and students during the launch of 2019 academic year at Kavieng SDA Primary School in Kavieng recently.
“It is imperative that we are all united in the expectations, challenges and goals for the year,” she said.
“To lift education in New Ireland needs all of us – me and you, every single one of us to work in a common way forward.”
Martin said this year’s theme of “Christian and values education for a better future” was a good one and should inspire teachers to give their best in their duties.
“We have been given an excellent privilege here, a faith-built vision,” she said.
Martin reminded teachers that they were important.
She told them they were the ones who helped educatie children who would one day be lawyers, doctors, engineers and politicians.
“To me, there is no better job in the world and there is nothing in the world I’d rather be doing than teaching,” Martin said.
“Every single day I spend as a teacher, I know I am making a difference, I am bringing about change, and I am driving improvement.
“The job is exciting, the opportunities endless.”
She thanked Governor Sir Julius Chan and provincial government for picking OLSH as the Governor’s School of Excellence.
Martin said the school of excellence concept embraced two main concepts:

  • To provide scholarships for high-performing students in high schools in New Ireland; and
  • To work with provincial government, other schools and other educational institutions to bring about education reform and improvement.

Martin told teachers that University of Canberra’s education faculty was committed to return to New Ireland this year to undertake a week-long teacher professional development workshop for teachers in the province – not just at OLSH.
“This is one of many exciting initiatives ahead of us in 2019,” she said.
“Every teacher in all school must be excellent.
“Every teacher, every school can be excellent too.
“Based on Christian and values education, it can be a better future.”