SHP needs new teachers’ college

By PETER ESOP WARI
SOUTHERN Highlands people need a new teachers’ college to be built on 14ha of land that was given to the Eastern End LLG, a district educationist says.
Southern Highlands only has a School of Nursing in Mendi after Dauli Teachers’ College was absorbed into the new Hela province.
Ialibu-Pangia district education adviser Jacob Iki said during last week’s Ialibu Secondary School graduation that the 14ha of land, which was donated by a mission, had already been surveyed.
Iki said thousands of students were graduating from secondary schools each year and their opportunity to enter other teachers’ colleges were slim because of the negative perception of Southern Highlands.
“Children are born ever­y day and thousands of students are entering elementary schools and passing out of Grade 12 every year.
“The need for a teachers’ college is of paramount importance,” he said.
The Southern Highlands provincial administration has put education at the top of its list and must consider the idea of establishing a teachers college.
Iki said a technical college at Nipa, in the Nipa-Kutubu electorate which would begin its academic year next year, was a milestone and good news for the province.
“Thousands of students are being rejected by the education system every year and such institution has given them hope for the future,” he said.
However, Iki said many schools from the province had not followed the education calendar and had closed early.
“I will visit every school in the district to ensure schools are still in operation and those that closed up early will be held responsible for denying the students their rights,” he said.