English a problem in schools “ principal

[BB-Leo]

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20081209/tuhome.htm

English a problem in schools – principal

By FRANCO NEBAS

MANY students do not master basic English when they come in from primary schools, a senior education officer in Morobe Province has said.
Wasu High School headmaster Saya Daniel said results from exams from students showed that they were not able to master the English language and that affected their performances in school.
Mr Daniel highlighted this problem at the Wasu High School’s 23rd graduation in the Tewae/Siassi electorate last week.
Mr Daniel said students coming from primary schoolsl had encountered problems to master English.
He said education authorities must quickly identified the problem because many students had already faced problem with English.
“This is a very important subject and authorities must seriously looked into it and identified the problem,” he said.
The event was also the first formal graduation for Wasu High.
The school was not one of the problem schools in Morobe.
He said the new board of management and administration had changed the school’s image and the first graduation was testimony of that.
Mr Daniel also highlighted some problems that were being encountered during his term there.
He said parents had failed to honour their commitment to complete the school fees on time, which resulted in huge monies owed to the school.
“The school fees owed to the school is well over K17,000 for Grade 10 while Grade 9 had over K50,000 outstanding,” he said.
Mr Daniel also stressed that with shortage of teachers in the school, teachers had to work hard to cater for the huge number of students in each of the classes.
Former judge Don Sawong who was the guest of honour commended Mr Daniel, the teachers and the interim board for their effort to see the first Grade 10 graduation.
Mr Sawong said the event was historical because education was key to success in life.
“Everybody talks about education because it is the key to the future, without education you won’t achieve your vision in life,” he said.
Tewae/Siassi MP Vincent Michael who attended the graduation presented a new vehicle to the school.
Mr Michael challenged the Education Department to identified the problem as to why English was very poor in nearly all schools in the country.
He said the department should seriously look into the problem especially at the elementary level.
“Why is a child unable to speak basic English is something the education authorities find out,” he said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEACH THEM 'CHINGLISH' INSTEAD, 300 OF THEM LANDED IN PNG

BB-Leo