Teachers, foreign or local, must be qualified

 THIS is a reply to the letter “Why brush aside our own teachers for foreign ones” by Mangi Peles (The National, Feb 10). 

PNG is a fast developing country not only in Asia-Pacific, but in the world with the mining boom. 

The government is investing millions and billions for the sustainable development of the nation in terms of infrastructure development. 

It also invests a substantial amount of the budget for the health and educations sectors. 

The tuition fee free policy is one of them and hundreds of thousands of children are benefitting from it. 

Parents are relieved rom the burden of school fees and the government is spending millions on classrooms and teachers’ houses. 

But any country’s progress is measured by its educated civilians and healthy society. 

When the author talks about the number of teachers, he thinks only of the quantity. 

But when the compulsory and free education is implemented in the nation, the teacher-student ratio is 1:60 instead of 1:30 per classroom. 

Yes, we have insufficient teachers, especially in high and secondary schools. 

How many high or secondary school teachers hold a degree in the subject they teach? 

Most school teachers are diploma holders as degree holders get a better salary and a better job. 

The fact is many of our so-called subject experts are unqualified to teach in secondary schools. 

More importantly, it is not the quantity, but the quality we have to consider. 

Take the attitude of our own teachers; how many faithfully attend classes and prepare lessons to teach? 

Many of us were taught by foreign teachers and we know of their dedication and commitment. 

The majority of our own teachers’ attitude towards this great job of nation building is questionable. 

So, in my opinion, whoever came up with the idea of recruiting foreign teachers should be proud as they have the real heart for this nation. 

In fact, what the government should have done when they came up with the idea of invest in education was to share the responsibility equally with parents.

Half of the money should go to the tuition fee free commodity, while the other half be invested in training teachers, hiring qualified foreign teachers as well as increasing the salary level and living standards of our teachers. 

The real problem and reality of the current teaching career is that after Grade 12, none of our top students are interested to go into this profession. 

Only C or D grade students apply to teachers college and we can imagine their quality and capability to teach. 

A lower-secondary general science teacher would be forced to teach physics and chemistry in upper secondary, so most of them only teach what is in their comfort zone and deliberately avoid difficult topics. 

One of the reasons for teacher absenteeism is the lack of in-depth knowledge in their subject areas. 

With due respect to our national teachers, we need degree and masters holders to teach our children in the secondary levels, otherwise our students will be poor performers in foreign institutions. 

Resigned teacher cum parent

Port Moresby