Western students overcome hardships

THIS year the PNG Sustainable Development Program (SDP) in partnership with the Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) congratulates 192 talented and motivated Grade 12 students who have completed the challenging journey to graduate from their Fode (Flexible Open and Distance Education) centres in Balimo (Delta Fly), Morehead (South Fly) and St Gabriel’s (North Fly) districts in Western.
This exceptional group of students has persevered and succeeded despite numerous setbacks and challenges including the global Covid pandemic, a national election, and a range of other difficulties.
They have resumed their studies as a pathway to new opportunities including further studies at tertiary level, which can open up exciting career opportunities as health workers and teachers.
The SDP Fode centres aim to train people from Western for employment in the province. The initiative seeks to complement and supplement the efforts of government. It was started in 2019 with 105 students enrolled in Balimo. This year we have a total of 775 students enrolled in Balimo, Morehead, Kiunga, and Lake Murray.
In 2022, SDP established Balimo College (another SDP and KTF partnership initiative) which offers teacher training and, in due course, a school of nursing and other disciplines such as agriculture. The Fode programme provides a pathway to Balimo College, which enrolled an initial intake of 37 teacher trainees at the beginning of last year, making it Western’s first-ever teachers college. All except one of those students passed their exams and continued as second-year trainee teachers this year, along with a second intake of 40 first-year trainees.
The growth of Balimo Teachers College has been a great motivator for our Fode students who aspire to become primary teachers. They and other high-achieving students can continue their education in the region.
SDP’s Director of Education Programmes, Dr Brad Shaw said: “We are very pleased to be working with KTF and seeing the successful expansion of our Fode programme both in terms of student numbers and geographic coverage. This year, we have enrolled Fode students in Balimo, Morehead, St Gabriel’s in Kiunga and Lake Murray.”
Kelesa Gebone, a graduating student from Balimo Fode centre, shares her experiences and excitement.
“Initially I completed my studies in the village, however, I did not get the required GPA needed to pass, and so I enrolled in Balimo Fode to upgrade my marks, and now I have reached my goal and finally will be graduating.
“I had to paddle one day to reach Balimo just to get to school. There were lots of struggles and challenges; I did not give up.
“I had lots of restless nights because I want to be somebody in the future. I am also happy that I have been selected to attend the Balimo Teachers College. I am very happy

and thankful to SDP,” said Kelesa.
Kelakiyato Gogo from Wasua village is another student with a compelling story. She enrolled in the Foe programme in 2020 but had to withdraw due to illness. In 2021, she re-enrolled, only to fall sick again and had to leave school the second time. Last year, when she re-enrolled, she told herself, “I can do it!”
With the support of her husband and the Foded teachers who continued to encourage her journey, Kelakiyato completed her studies and was so delighted to receive the ‘Most Improved’ award for Grade 12.
She is currently enrolled as a first-year teacher trainee at Balima Teaches College and said when she completes her studies, it is her hope to teach at her husband’s village in Waliama.
“I want to encourage those who are starting their Fode journey. If you want to achieve something, be committed, and make the sacrifice. You will get there.”
Grade 12 dux awardee Maxine Dabema added: “Hard work pays off.” “Work hard and you will achieve your dreams. Education is precious – we don’t realise it but when you are given a second chance, grab it and make the most out of it.”
While congratulating the graduating students, the Provincial Education Advisor Charlie Buia acknowledged the work that SDP and KTF are doing in education in remote Western, saying: “It is greatly helping the provincial government to narrow the gap in having high student dropout rates.”
Buia said the Government’s vision was to have an educated, healthy, wealthy, and wise population by 2050. “I believe in education. When we invest in education, the other three will automatically fall in line,” he said.
“So, we need to invest in education. Education will set you free. Once you get educated, it will start transforming you to become useful citizens.”
In 2022, SDP and KTF also celebrated other academic achievements, including the largest enrolment of students across the three Western Fode centres, the completion of Grade 9, 10, 11 and 12 studies by over 150 students at the Fode centres, and a 100 per cent progression rate into further study for Grades 10 and 11.
KTF’s CEO Dr Genevieve Nelson says: “We are so very proud of all our 2022 Fode students who are graduating this week. Fode is a second chance pathway for people to re-engage with formal schooling and to have a second chance at the opportunities formal education provides. We have witnessed story after story of resilience and overcoming hardship across the SDP Fode centres and every graduate this week has managed to overcome immense challenges. We are excited to see what’s next for them.”
SDP and KTF are excited about the potential of these future graduates and the growing opportunities in tertiary studies that will benefit PNG communities for generations to come.

• STORY and pictures supplied by PNG Sustainable Development Program