The University of Goroka has signed a Memorandum of Agreement to deliver Bachelors of Science related disciplines at Enga Teachers College.
UOG and Enga Provincial Government believe they are helping the national government fulfill its policies of developing human resources.
Starting in 2020 , the first batch of students choosing to study a Bachelors in Science Education, will be studying at UOG Wabag campus.
The understanding is that anything to do with academics, student selections, examinations, and staff appointments will be done by the University Council.
Decisions on funding, infrastructure development, security and board of staff appointments are the responsibility of Enga Provincial Government.
Both state institutions are collaborated to achieve a milestone in delivering quality programs.
These are physics, biology, chemistry, including Math and English.
UOG Chancellor, Professor Joseph Sukwianomb says “this is to ensure that teachers are competent in delivering science subjects at any high school, secondary or technical schools”.
The university council is in talks with other provincial governments to decentralize higher education to provinces, and fulfil the national governments recent policy.
The national government wants teacher training institutions to partner or merge with relevant authorities who are also providing education to provide quality education and teacher trainings.
“So basically UOG is helping the government to realize those policies. The binding will take a period of ten years to implement the bachelor of education in science teacher training,” Professor Sukwianomb.
Enga Governor, Sir Peter Ipatas says the signing of the agreement is timely, because the provincial government and the people of Enga want to see Enga in the long run become the education and health hub of the country.
“We believe that we need to look at having sustainable programs here and we are committed,’’ says Governor Ipata”
The EPG will continue to invest in education to develop human resources, and help the nation achieve quality education, and help improve people’s living standards.
Sir Peter says they need to have proper dialogue with the national government, because the National Governments call for an education institution such as UOG to train teachers is being answered through the partnership.
UOG has grown out of being an education institution to offering other disciplines in humanities, science, and are also in talks to establish a medical school, teaching hospital, schools of science and technology, agriculture and many more.
By Vasinatta Yama, EMTV News, Mt Hagen
