A community in Nongul, has offered its land for the establishment of a new primary teacher’s college.
The Jiwaka Teacher’s College has taken its first batch of students this year, for 3 years diploma in Primary Teaching. The school was recently opened by officials from the Jiwaka Provincial government.
Nongul sits on the border of Jiwaka, and Simbu provinces. This part of Jiwaka in North Waghi District, has always been the least developed, with little government services reaching the people.
It was a community dream to establish this teacher’s college, not only to create education opportunities, but with the aim of grasping government attention. The community here has made available 4 hectares of land, for the establishment of this school.
Although not registered yet, the school, with only one classroom, and an incomplete administration building, has opened its doors for student enrolment. The community has used their resources, and money to put up these buildings, and two houses for lecturers.
Four lecturers have been engaged by the community, of which 2 are on government payroll, while the other 2 are retired teachers.
A ceremony last week marked the opening of the school, with visitors from Jiwaka Provincial Government, including deputy provincial administrator, Joseph Karap.
Government support from both provincial, and national government, was the general concern shared by those at the ceremony.
The first 80 students have now gone into their first week of the 1st trimester, learning foundation subjects. This school does not have a principal, and will run under a different structure, with a coordinator as the head of the institution.
Paul Siwi, the founder of the school, says negotiations with the Officer of Higher Education to register the school, is underway.
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