By Delly Bagu – EM TV, Port Moresby
The standard-based education curriculum will be rolled out to schools throughout the country, starting this year.
Minister for Education, Nick Kuman, said the reform is good for the country, if we want to produce students that will become more competitive in the global arena.
One of the standout features of the standard-based education, is that English will be the language of instruction.
Minister Kuman said this morning that the standard-based education will be rolled out this year throughout Papua New Guinea and be phased out over a four-year period.
This year will see standard-based education rolled out to prep, elementary one and elementary two; to grades three through to six in 2016; grades seven through to nine in 2017; and in 2018, to grades 10 through to grade 12.
This means that the systems of instruction, assessment, grading and academic reporting will be based on students demonstrating understanding of the knowledge and skills they are expected to learn as they progress through their education.
Standard-based education is not new to Papua New Guinea; it was last used in 1999, when the outcome-based education was introduced. It is expected to improve the current, alarmingly-low levels of literacy in Papua New Guinea. Minister Kuman said elementary school teachers have begun their training.
Education Secretary, Dr Michael Tapo said with the new curriculum, English will be the language of instruction and teachers will have to improve their English proficiency.
Minister Kuman also revealed that the government has announced major interventions to the teaching facilities throughout the country. These are programs that will help to ensure our students remain in schools with better facilities, well-trained teachers, and a reasonable student to teacher ratio.
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