Province opens academic year

 TEACHERS in Lae schools represented their colleagues from all over Morobe to observe the opening of the 2014 academic year.

The opening took place last Friday at St Paul’s Lutheran Primary School.

Guest included Sheron Mathias (FODE Rep), provincial education advisor Murika Bihoro and chief guest, deputy administrator-social sector Shila Harlou.

Harlou acknowledged the great men and women who were called teachers at all levels they taught at.

She told the teachers health and education were top of government services.

“You are at the forefront of education service delivery in this province and have you got your nets mended, received instructions and are ready to launch out into the deep,” she asked.

“Today we are faced with greater challenges in the education system and there are three important subjects that are on top of the list –accessibility, retention and quality and apart from that there are other related issues that must be dealt.

“We must be prepared physically, mentally, emotionally and intellectually into the new school year with new challenges ahead.”

She reiterated there were not enough education facilities to cater for the growing student population.

She said most education institutions did not have space and yet the state was trying to increase enrolment. She said that lead to many factors like overcrowding, poor infrastructure, poor teaching conditions, lack of specialist teachers.