The price of OBE

Letters

IT is a relief for parents to know that the outcome-based education (OBE) system is now going to be done away with.
OBE was designed to stagnate our children’s learning. We all know the outcome of the OBE system on our children.
Unfortunately, the authorities realised the bad results of OBE 15 years late.
Those in authority should not take the advice of foreigners without first asking the hard questions on the pros and cons of adopting new ideas that change our existing and well-tested systems and have been working.
Because of OBE, PNG now has a generation of semi-educated young people working or roaming the streets. Those fortunate enough to be still studying are still struggling with learning.
Hopefully, the standard-based system will produce good results again and will be maintained in the long run.
The first section to go must be the elementary grade. Secondly, phonics should be introduced in all schools to accelerate reading and writing skills.
When a child learns to read and write well at an early age, all other subjects become easier to cope with. Currently many children in grades 3 to 5 are still struggling to read because their teachers at elementary level were themselves not taught well.
How can one expect a grade 8 or 10 school leaver without a teaching certificate to teach and produce results?
The OBE has been a curse on our people, therefore the government has rightly decided to do away with it and change for the better.
We can only hope and work hard for a better educated population from now onwards.

S. Sisiwan
Waigani, NCD