THE criteria used to select students to Grade 11 and the quality of teachers engaged at Schools of Excellence are key issues that will be discussed at the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math’s) Curriculum workshop this week.
Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra highlighted the issues when officially opening the workshop this morning at the Port Moresby National High School’s David Diowai Conference Room.
Representatives of the five Schools of Excellence throughout PNG which include Port Moresby National High School at Rainbow, Gerehu, the Sogeri National High School in Central Province, Passam (East Sepik), Kerevat (East New Britain) and Aiyura (Eastern Highlands) National High Schools are participants of the two-day conference.
The Education Department elevated the institutions to “Schools of Excellence” last year where the top five percent of students from Grade 10 are selected to attend these schools.
Dr Kombra said Schools of Excellence are meant to be of the highest level backed with qualified teachers, curriculum, and resources and a culture with a ‘niche’; a specific specialized areas.
The Education Secretary urged students and teachers as well as administrators to have the determination and resilience to make the STEM curriculum be taught to students and make it become successful.
“Nothing is perfect. There will be always challenges but we must be strong, determined, think positive, take on the challenges and overcome them,” Dr Kombra said.
Dr Kombra said certain areas that need to be addressed during the conference are the selection criteria used in choosing the type of students into Grade 11 and the quality of teachers that are engaged at the Schools of Excellence.
“We need the best teachers. We cannot continue to recruit and maintain a teacher who is not specialized.
“Even if it means more funding to engage the best teachers and funding to hire and fire; let’s have some discussion on this,” Dr Kombra urged participants of the STEM conference today.