By Vasinatta Yama – EMTV News, Mt Hagen
Enga Provincial Government is supporting teacher education in the province to produce qualified teachers. Enga Governor, Sir Peter Ipatas, says Enga will soon become a major education hub of the country. Sir Peter says this will not come easy and it will need continuous support from the National Government and higher authorities to achieve this dream.
The Enga Governor met with students from other provinces in the country who were selected by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology to study Education at Enga Teachers College. There were 26 students in year 1 and 2 who got into the school only to find out that Enga Teachers College is a day school. These students are now being accommodated at the Highlands Lutheran International School. Sir Peter Ipatas told the students that the Enga Provincial Government is taking the responsibility to pay for their accommodation since they are in his province so that they can complete their studies at Enga Teachers College. He presented a cheque of K246, 500 as 50 per cent payment to the Highlands Lutheran International School for these students to continue living at HLIS. EPG also presented another cheque of K520, 176 for their accommodation, food and learning.
Enga Teachers College is less than 8 years old and is a national institution built by the Enga Provincial Government and supported by the Australian High Commission. Starting next year, their dormitories will be completed to accommodate at least 350 students.
ETC has graduated Primary and Elementary teachers who are currently teaching in Enga Province and making sure there is a standard of 34 students to one teacher in a classroom.
Apart from free education in Enga, Enga Provincial Government is also sponsoring selected grade 10 students from each electorate in the Province to take up science subjects at Highlands Lutheran International School. Sir Peter says many Engans want to take up social science subjects in grades 11 and 12 and the Province needs more engineers, doctors and people in the science field to balance services in the Province.
