Schools told to ensure teachers are qualified

By PHOEBE GWANGILO
THE Education Department has stressed the importance of engaging properly trained and qualified teachers in schools, including the privately-owned ones.
This follows concerns raised by parents of students in some private schools that some teachers were qualified in other fields but not teaching, making it difficult for students to understand them.
“Many teachers have (qualifications) in various fields but do not have the teacher training qualification,” teacher education division assistant secretary Allan Jim said.
“The department has highlighted this to the agencies or owners of private schools when we are asked to visit them.
“For the sake of maintaining the quality of teaching and learning, you cannot just pluck out someone without any teacher training qualification.
“Teachers that come through our quality assurance and quality control related-tasks must be graduates of recognised institutions in the country.
“Those from outside, we verify with appropriate bodies or institutions.
“Many teachers in private schools are either retired teachers or certified teachers who joined because of the better terms and conditions of employment.
“Otherwise many who are teaching are university graduates could not find jobs and decided to teach because they needed to earn a living.
“Examples of schools who apply for inspections through the education secretary are St Joseph’s International Catholic College, Caritas, Don Bosco Gabutu and Port Moresby Grammar.”
Jim advised parents enrolling children in teacher training institutions to make sure the institutions are recognised by the department.