Prime Minister, James Marape officially opened the 5th National Education Conference at the University of Goroka yesterday.
Marape told the Education Secretary, Dr Uke Kombra to come up with a workable strategy to cut down the bottle-neck type of education system in the country.
Students, academics, and education professionals from all around the country attended the event.
Speaking at the 5th National Education Conference in Goroka yesterday, the Prime Minister made known his concerns over the high numbers of children at Elementary level, who then don’t make it to secondary education, and tertiary institutions.
Marape says for far too long, children have been failed by the education system.
This bottle-neck sees an influx of students at elementary and primary level, but after Grade 8, and estimated 50 to 60 per cent make it to high and secondary schools.
Of these, less than 40 per cent make it to Grades 11 and 12.
Statistically, less than 20 per cent make it to tertiary institutions, leaving behind a huge number of unemployed youth.
Marape says he would like to see change in the education system, to give hope and opportunity to those who cannot continue in the country’s formal education system.
He has told the Education Secretary to come up with a working strategy to fit his slogan of “Taking Back PNG.”
He also urged public servants to in the country to be serious in their jobs and identify what they could do to contribute to the development of this country.
By Vasinatta Yama, EM TV – Mt Hagen
