Teachers’ qualifications drop

THE level of education and qualification of teachers from primary to tertiary in all institutions has dropped, an official says.
Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) acting deputy secretary Nomison Napo told The National that this was revealed through a discussion paper on the education system in PNG.
Napo said the aim of the discussion paper was to look into laws surrounding education, especially the criteria by which different levels of schooling from pre-kindergarten to primary schools, to secondary and higher institutions were established.
“We want to come up with the framework policy in education that regulates the type of infrastructure and the type of qualification in the education system,” he said.
“The education system has jumped different types of systems in the last few years such as the outcome-based education system.
“Right now, there is no standard law to regulate schools and institutions.”
Napo said there were no requirements to set up education institutions.
He said as a result, all kinds of schools popped up from private homes without proper guidelines.
“There are also concerns about the teachers and their qualifications in different levels of the schools. We need to increase the professional integrity of the teachers to impart relevant knowledge,” he said.
“By changing the system, we can promote PNG to be on the level playing field with other international education systems.”
Napo said the discussion paper would be submitted to Justice Minister and Attorney-General Davis Steven to issue a formal terms of reference. They would then consult the public on what the parents feel and get views of students.
“After the consultation, we will recommend the government to make changes to the policy and refine the overall education system,” Napo said.
CLRC secretary Dr Mange Matui said the education system should be addressed holistically and in totality. “Whatever that is wrong in primary schools, the secondary and universities will be affected.”