A reason enough to hire Australian teachers

TO continually read and hear that the level of written English in Papua New Guinea has dropped should be a concern to all.
It has been chorused by educationists so many times but to no avail, even as we continue to reform our education system from universal to outcome and now to standard-based.
Personnel Management Secretary John Kali has raised this issue again, saying that from what he is seeing at work, the standard of written English among public servants had dived since Independence when Australians taught in schools in the country.
English was officially adopted as Papua New Guinea’s national language at Independence 42 years ago.
The reality though is that in a country where illiteracy or semi-literacy is widespread (at least two thirds of the adult population cannot read or write in English) we cannot claim to be English literate.
It has been observed that in the years following 1975 English language comprehension, grammar and communicating skills have taken a dip in schools and exam results show that.
What should be an improving trend is regressing or, at the very least, stagnant.
The reason why things have not changed for the better in terms of our mastering of the English language is that standards have not been kept and enforced.
Today, Papua New Guineans who want to be successful at any endeavor must be fluent in both written and spoken English.
Professional careers such as those found in law, medicine, accounting, teaching, media, engineering and science require the individual to have a literacy level well above the national average.
Even professions in industry cannot forego the need for their skilled workers to be English proficient.
It speaks for itself that many Papua New Guineans can speak English to a standard deemed competent by our education system but still cannot be gainfully employed or think logically or ethically at the best of times.
Does it matter that most people cannot carry a conversation in English to a degree that enables the listener and the speaker to communicate effectively?
Some would argue that there is no real need for Papua New Guineans to be completely conversant in English.
Without doubt the language of choice preferred by most Papua New Guineans is Pidgin English.
Local vernacular or traditional languages are used in a village or home setting because people are comfortable with that.
One cannot expect to be good at something if he or she does not practise at it or use the skill regularly.
We seem to have fallen into the trap of expecting to do well without first being able to speak or think well.
Makes one wonder what went wrong for the standard of English have dropped so much to make people like Kali worry.
It is now time to put away all systems and maybe take on Kali’s suggestion and start luring young Australian university graduates who want to pursue a teaching career to come and teach in our primary schools.
It should be easy with him taking up his new position in Canberra soon as high commissioner.
Knowing how to speak and write English well increases one’s chances of getting a good job here or abroad.