03/12/2024
7000 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO BE ABOLISHED
MORE than 7000 elementary schools will be abolished under the new.1-6-6 education structure that will see all students who enroll in grade one exit in grade 12,according to the Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra
"Right now, we have about 13,000 schools," he said. "When we move elementary into primary. we will only have around 3000 schools.
We will deal with only a small number. "And we must get hold of those small numbers and make sure that the system is functioning.
Dr Kombra challenged the school inspectors and provineial education advisers. He said that under early childhood, the education system, elementary one and two, will be moved to the primary sector to allow four year olds to start early childhood education.
Dr Kombra said that with the help of the Education Department, teachers will be trained and qualified to teach in respective sectors.
These changes are expected to happen between next year and 2030. "From next year, we will look at maybe one to ten schools only," Dr Kombra said.
"We'll make sure that they're going to function. "So, we will only train, say, about 15 teachers only who have come out of the University of Goroka with a diploma in early childhood education.
"We have bought the curriculum itself already. It'salmost complete. "We'll train those teachers.
"There will be five-areas of learning for a child who will enroll in early childhood. One of the subjects that we will introduce in PNG will be called God and the Bible.
"So that will start very small next year. As we learn from those few model early childhood centers, we will then look at expanding. "
