The East New Britain Chapter of the Papua New Guinea Australia Alumni Association has set its sights on improving education in a bid to boost the quality of life of people in the province, and move the country forward.
This follows a recent two day education forum funded by the Australia Awards Small Grant Program in Kokopo at a cost of K23, 000. The forum featured PNGAAA Kokopo alumni who are education implementers in the province.
The forum heard that low education standards from early childhood learning, primary, secondary and tertiary education can be a major cause for reduced numbers of quality students progressing through schools in the province.
PNGAAA, Kokopo Chapter President Lynna Joel, said education is fundamental to the sustainable development of East New Britain and that it has to start early and followed through to university.
“Ensuring that our children during their early years of learning right through to tertiary education receive the best and highest quality of education, guarantees a society of well-educated people that can move our province and our country forward,” Ms Joel said.
The alumni identified education policy gaps that the East New Britain provincial government could review in order to increase the standards of education in the province.
The education forum paves the way for future consultations for East New Britain’s education policies with its theme “Our Children Our Futures. East New Britain: Where are we heading in Education?”
The PNGAAA was formed in 2006 to provide Papua New Guineans who have studied in Australia with a mechanism to contribute to development in PNG and support their ongoing development as leaders. PNGAAA has Chapters in Madang, Goroka, Kokopo, Lae, Lorengau,Enga and Bougainville.
The PNGAAA is supported by the Australian aid program through the Australia Awards PNG Facility. To become a member or find out more about the PNGAAA email pngaaasecret@gmail.com.
Source: Australia Awards
