A five-day collaborative workshop aimed at strengthening teacher education has been hailed as a major boost to academic capacity and curriculum quality in Papua New Guinea.
The workshop, held in Port Moresby, brought together more than 30 lecturers from teacher training institutions across the country to review and strengthen course content for the newly rolled-out Diploma in Teaching Primary (DITP) in-service programme, launched in 2024.
Ms Carol Abiri Leo, a lecturer from Divine Word University’s St Benedict Campus, described the workshop as invaluable in equipping lecturers with new strategies for curriculum design and delivery.
The programme was supported through the PNG-Australia Partnership under the Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE) initiative, in collaboration with academic experts from Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
Participants included academics from Enga Innovative University, PNG Education Institute, Balimo Teachers College, Sacred Heart Teachers College, and Divine Word University.
During the workshop, lecturers reviewed and refined courses in Social Science Education and Civics and Christian Values to ensure alignment with the DITP programme. The diploma is designed to improve the quality of teaching in early grades by aligning teacher qualifications with the Government of Papua New Guinea’s 1-6-6 education structure-one year of preparatory schooling, six years of primary education and six years of secondary education.
“Getting all lecturers together promoted inclusiveness and allowed us to be involved at every stage of course design and curriculum writing,” Ms Leo said. “It opened our eyes to new possibilities and gave us the confidence to review and strengthen our own programmes.”
She said the workshop also created a strong platform for professional networking, lesson sharing and collective motivation to improve teacher education services nationwide.
Upon returning to her campus, Ms Leo integrated the new approaches directly into her teaching. She noted that trainee teachers demonstrated improved confidence and practical, student-focused skills during their school placements.
“Evidence shows that over the two years we have engaged with PIE and QUT, lecturers’ professional capacity has significantly increased,” she said. “The programme actively encouraged collaboration and input from PNG lecturers, helping to shape a high-quality diploma that equips early-grade teachers with the skills they need.”
The workshop forms part of broader national efforts to strengthen early-grade teaching and improve learning outcomes for children across Papua New Guinea.