Teachers arrive in Lae for SHP postings

By PISAI GUMAR
THE Southern Highlands is going out of its way to develop its human resource starting with a mass recruitment of teachers recently.
So far, it had recruited more than 250 graduates nationwide, to fill up the 708 vacancies, provincial education advisor Joel Raitano said in Lae yesterday.
He led a delegation that included his deputy Kangie Pake, appointment officer Kita Patrick, education resource centre coordinator Terry Gaso and Christian education service secretary Joe Sui to Lae to welcome more than 100 young graduates who arrived from Sepik, Madang, West and East New Britain and Central.
The teachers, both male and female, were recruited from various teachers colleges including Balob, Gaulim, Kabaleo, Sonoma, St Benedicts, Madang, Holy Trinity, Dauli, Nazarene and University of Goroka for vacancies in 896 schools from elementary to secondary and colleges.
The province has a ceiling of 4,178 teachers in 554 elementary, 57 community, 77 primary, six secondary, six vocational and two technical schools.
Of these, 708 are vacant and would now be filled with teachers from outside the province.
“The provincial education board (PEB) will ensure teachers serve in non-violent communities – a community’s non-violent attitude and character will be monitored,” Gaso said.
He  said: “We need professional and ethical teachers that can teach and lead by example as well because our prime aim is to improve pupils’ knowledge and skills at all levels of schooling that require teachers as the engine room to drive the change forward.”
 “Development of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) cannot last without human resource as human resource is critical and education systems and standards remain as pillars,” Raitano said.
“Education standard in SHP needs improvement. Our  target is to ensure quality pre-service teachers with relevant outcome-based education  knowledge and skills are recruited to achieve universal basic education to produce quality intellectuals using the provincial government funds,” he said.