Top teachers eyed for religious study

THE subject of citizenship and Christian value education (CCVE) will have to be taught by teachers who practise Christian principles every day.
Education Secretary Uke Kombra said the CCVE, which will be taught in schools from next year, is a practical subject and teachers teaching it should demonstrate what they teach in the classrooms as well as outside.
“If a teacher teaches the student that chewing betel nut is not good and themselves chew does not make any difference and change in a student,” he said.
“This subject is all about changing the characters and attitudes of our young people and today we see our country has a lot of social issues and this subject is trying to address that.”
Kombra said CCVE is both a theory and practical subject and will be compulsory like English, mathematics, science and social sciences. It is being introduced with the aim of developing a vibrant and productive generation.
In the past six years the education system has undertaken major reforms and changes to give opportunity to every Papua New Guineans to equal and fair and quality education and be productive in their families, communities and the country as a whole, Kobra said.
The CCVE was declared by Education Minister Nick Kuman in July as a compulsory subject in schools from next year.
The CCVE will emphasise on good role modeling, productive and meaningful citizenship, beginning with respective parents and guardians.
It also emphasises fairness and respect within the family and the community – at national and global level.
CCVE comes under four strands, including civic identities, principles and systems; Christian values and principles; citizenship and society and governance and leadership.
The CCVE teachers guide and syllabus from prep to grade 3 was launched in July and the training of teachers started this week in NCD and Central.
It will be rolled out in other provinces in the coming weeks.
Assistant Secretary Teacher Education and Inspection Division Allan Jim said all training of trainers and in-service for teachers on this subject will be done before this year ends.
“When the academic year starts next year we will start teaching the subject in the grades prep to 3 in all schools, “he said.
More than 50 senior teachers, head teachers, school inspectors and lecturers of NCD and Central had their weeklong training of trainers course from Oct 22-26 at the Granville motel in Port Moresby.