THE timing of the free education policy is not right, says the board chairman of a biggest primary school in Mt Hagen.
Douglas Ivarato said the policy was designed for the government’s own political benefit next year.
Ivarato said Tarangau Primary School did not have adequate infrastructure like classrooms, libraries, teachers’ houses, science labs, dormitories, curriculum materials and teachers’ guide in place to cater for the many new students who would be enrolling next year.
He said the free education policy would only be successful if all schools in the country had these vital infrastructures, learning materials and teachers in place.
He said in his school there were about 50 students in every class from Grade 3 to 8.
Ivarato said his school would be accepting extra students enrolling next year but they didn’t have extra classrooms, curriculum materials, teachers’ houses and teachers.
He said the Education Department wanted the maximum number of students in each class to be between 35 and 40.
Ivarato said this would be big problem next year in most schools.
He said many lazy parents who did not bother to find school fees were happy but the schools would face problems.
He said the government should first build vital infrastructure in every school, provide enough teaching and learning materials for the teachers and students, and train more teachers.
Ivarato urged the government to reconsider its policy on free education and may be introduce the policy in two to three years.
He said the government must also create more employment opportunities for those who would be graduating from universities and colleges each year.