Acting Education Secretary, Dr Joseph Pagelio has suggested stakeholders to consider upgrading skills of teachers through alternate flexible learning mode has those provided by Divine Word University (DWU).
Speaking at the National Catholic Education Convention at DWU in Madang on Monday 28 March, Dr Pagelio said due to the changing circumstances, there was a need for more proactive upskilling programs that do not take teachers away from their schools for long periods as in the past.
Gone are the times when we can afford to send teachers on long term residential courses, that, as we have learnt, have precluded many of our female teachers because of family and other commitments.
I have been impressed with the courses that you are providing here at DWU that can be done in a mixed mode with short residential sessions combined with assignments to be completed by the teacher at his or her own school.
I challenge you to extend this to a far greater number of teachers both in the schools that you administer as well as our Government run institutions.
Dr Pagelio
He said this was necessary to be “responsive to teachers” regarding their professional development if quality universal education is to be achieved as envisioned in the Vision 2050.
Teachers are critical to any success that we may hope for and the Vision 2050 says that we should ‘improve terms and conditions for academics and teachers’ but this is far too simplistic.
We have got to do much more than simply improve their terms and conditions, important though these are.
Pagelio
He said the education strategic plan that is being prepared looks at the “professionalization of teaching service”.
I want teachers to be considered in the same regard as engineers and as health professionals.
Dr Pagelio said a body that is more than a trade union should be set up to vouch for the professional nurturing of teachers.