New Trained Teachers

P-Ng’S Problem

Of Education

Sogeri Produces 17 New Trained Teachers

ris possible that December 9, 1954. will be chalked up in red, as a date to be remembered in the native education system of Papua-New Guinea. On that day, at Sogeri, 17 native students—the first to complete the full 6-years’ training course at the Sogeri Education Centre, on the cool uplands at the back of Port Moresby—received their certificates as qualified school-teachers.

The problem of bringing literacy to P-NG’s 1| million natives is the biggest and ugliest in the Dual Territory. If they are to be brought to higher standards of living, as a united community, the natives must attain some literacy and, if possible, use one—or, at most, two or three — languages. At present, they have no common language, except Pidgin English.

Handing the certificates to the 17 new native teachers, Administrator D. M. Cleland said that the native people were eager for education and general progress; and, if money was available, it was a comparatively easy matter to build schools. But it was a much more difficult task to staff the schools; and the training of native teachers therefore was a matter of major importance to the Administration. Plans now were being made to meet this need.

Sogeri Education Centre was com menced modestly by ANGAU in 1944. when it was seen that educated and trained natives would be in much demand in the future for ad ministrative work; and it now has grown to an important institution, educating some 200 students to the Australian Intermediate standard, and giving them special training for professional and business fields.

Describing the work done at Sogeri, the Director of Education (Mr. W. C. Groves) said the ultimate plan was to have a chain of similar establishments working at the same high level throughout the Territories. Trained men were needed not only as school teachers but for all sections of industry and for the Departments. Technical as well as scholastic training was given at Sogeri.

All the new 17 teachers already have been posted to school work in Papua and New Guinea.

Native Apprentices

The organisation introduced by the Administration to provide for the training of native apprentices, in co-operation with private em ployers, is beginning to function.

District committees are being estab lished in Port Moresby, Lae, Wau, Rabaul and other centres to investi

gate and control industrial con ditions for apprentices. The aim of course is to produce competent tradesmen in accordance with a co ordinated plan, and to give the native youths the usual protection and security while they are in training.