Ample Provision for European Education in
p. 27 · Read in the full issue
N.G. Territories
r THE following article is a condensation * of a broadcast talk given by the Dir ector of Education for Papua-New Guinea. Mr. W. C. Groves, from 9 PA, Port Moresby, on October 31.
It describes the generous scheme of eductaion which has been planned and set in operation for European children in the Territory, and which should be of interest to all parents.
The broadcast, too, had a secondary significance in that the local radio net work was used to acquaint residents of the Provisional Territory of one aspect of Administration procedure. If this were done more frequently, the misunderstand ings of and antagonism to government policy, that exist at ,the present time, would be reduced and might even be re placed by some spirit of co-operation be tween different sections of the com munity.
THE New Guinea Education Depart ment, Mr. Groves said, realised the peculiar circumstances of the Terri tory and its remoteness from normal European facilities, and the handicaps that the children would suffer if ade quate provision were not made to offset them. Briefly, the policy of the Admin istration was to provide the European children with the best in teachers, build ings, equipment and curricula.
At present there are two primary schools in Port Moresby—one Govern ment school, and one conducted by the Sisters of the Roman Catholic mission.
Provision has already been made for a modern Government school building, with equipment, to be erected at Ela Beach, and the staff for 1947 will con
sist of a male head teacher, a woman assistant teacher, and one or more stu dent teachers recruited locally. Ar rangements will be made for student teachers to receive full training at an Australian teachers’ training college.
As well as the Port Moresby school, full-time Government primary schools will be established in all centres where the net monthly enrolment is over 8. In smaller centres, it is hoped to arrange for subsidised schools. Two subsidised schools are already in operation in Mad ang and Lae, where Mrs. C. Deland and Mrs. R .Tebb respectively are in charge.
Schools will be opened at Rabaul and at Bulolo in the new year, as well as at any other place that warrants it.
There are schools at Alexishafen NG and at Sogeri, Papua, that are already func tioning.
It is the Administration’s wish that the school shall be the focal point in the community; but it is believed that this will be possibly only through the form ation of Parents’ Committees, without which no school can function properly.
Secondary education in the Territory is at present impossible; but by the pro vision of liberal bursary grants, details of which will be made known shortly, the Administration plans to shoulder some of the financial responsibility of providing such instruction at schools in Australia.
Already the Education Department in Port Moresby is undertaking to look after children arriving in that town from southern schools for vacations, and to actually arrange for their accommoda tion, transport and escort, right to their homes.
Children who are too isolated to at tend any of the local schools in the Ter ritory will be provided for by correspon dence classes. The Administration will arrange and pay for these courses, which are provided by all of the States in Aus tralia. If parents will inform the Edu cation Department, in Port Moresby, which scheme their child is working under, the Department will take the case in hand.