Trainee teachers to gain experience in rural Morobe

 It is hard to get new young, graduate primary teachers to serve their first few years in remote and isolated schools in PNG and the Menyamya district is trying to address that issue.

The Morobe district, which borders Central, Gulf and Eastern Highlands, is going a step ahead to get trainee teachers to learn, adapt and be prepared to serve in rural Menyamya when they graduate.

For the first time, nine primary school schools in Menyamya will benefit from the services of 180 students from the Balob Teachers’ College. 

They will be engaged there for their block-teaching for five weeks.

Menyamya district education coordinator, Ron Tanakai said over the years the district could not get trainee primary school teachers to do their practical there because of the deteriorating road conditions.

The excited trainees left Lae yesterday at around 2am in 22 10-seater vehicles, accompanied by head teachers of the nine primary schools. 

Tanakai and the head teachers presented themselves to the students last Saturday at the college where they explained to the trainees their expectations and gave their assurances on their safety, hospital communities and exciting learning experiences.

“This is the first time in the district and the nearby communities of the nine schools they will serve in are eager to welcome them. 

“There are other schools but the nine schools were selected because they were connected by road,” Tanakai said.

The nine primary schools are Hiakwata, Aseki, Sikwong, Kapo, Menyamya, Concordia, Ungwimela, Hakwange and Kwaphalim.

 Tanakai said there was a big need for block teaching as there was severe shortage of teachers because many new teachers “escaped” back to urban schools. “Through such exercises, their image and mentality will change and their experiences there will really boost the kind of thinking they have had.

“I urge you to follow up and get a full-time posting after your studies.”