SHP education in poor shape

 THE standard of education in  Southern Highlands has dropped, according to a deputy principal at a school in Pangia district.

Garry Alphonse blames the poor supply of school materials and political leadership as the contributing factors. 

He said fewer students were making it into tertiary institutions.

A similar remark was made by Peter Tulapi, a lecturer at the University of PNG during the recent provincial development forum in Mendi.

He said that there was a huge gap in the output from schools in SHP compared to other provinces.

He said most of the students attending tertiary institutions were from other provinces.

Alphonse said the educated elite gap increased from 1999 to 2009 compared to other provinces.

He made the observation after comparing the number of students graduating from universities and colleges and entering the workforce in various professions.

He said Hela could be experiencing the same problem.

“The drop in the standard is squarely to be blamed on political leadership and material or school supply distribution in the province.”

He said the problem began when the late Hami Yawari was Governor and engaged Treid Pacific Ltd to distribute school supplies in the province and implemented a free education policy.

“The free education policy in the province was welcomed by the people but the implementation part by bureaucrats in the province failed, including the supplying of materials,” Alphonse said.

He said the remotest areas in the province had to wait for their supply of stationery for more than two months to prepare lessons and tests for students.