FAKING A PASSABLE EDUCATION ON TOP OF FAKED UNIVERSITIES

by NIUGINI OUTLOOK
Successive government in PNG have been brilliant at fooling parents, students and the nation regarding their investment in education. Now Peter O'Neill is bragging that the nation invests K2 billion in education yearly, which no government has ever done.
These are the facts:
- No government has seriously supported education in our country in any kind of quality way.
- The government spends less money per student today for education than occurred 30 years ago, whether it is community school level or university.
- Our population growth combined with the declining value of the kina due to inflation, completely outstrips the government's ability to increase the amount of kina in real terms spent on education per student.
- For many years, the country got away with this lack of investment because so few people had even high school education and there were plenty of jobs available for those who did.
- Our PNG universities in particular started sliding downhill, one small step at a time.
- Because our economy has not grown as fast as our population, we now face the impossible situation whereby the great majority of our university graduates leave school with a very poor education.
- That our uni graduates today receive a very poor education is confirmed by the very poor rankings that all PNG universities have compared to universities in the rest of the world, even in developing countries poorer than ours.
- Poorly educated uni graduates are not in demand nearly anywhere in the world, including PNG. Thus the majority of our uni graduates today are underemployed or unemployed. Employers, particularly large, multinational ones, only want the top 10% or so of university graduates and abandon the rest.
Now we have the Great Disaster of 2016 with our PNG public universities. Instead of looking at reality, as university administrators did in 1991, and simply cancelled the rest of the school year, the O'Neill government, with Peter O'Neill and Isaac Lupari leading the charge, are intent to put on a circus show for the nation.
They have pushed hard to get the universities restarted although it is nearly halfway through month #8 and UPNG students wouldn't even return until September. Following that, they have frightened university administrators into exaggerating the percentage of students who have returned, hoping this will encourage more to return to campus environments that are unstable at best and downright dangerous at worse. In fact O'Neill and Lupari are at the back of University Chancellors and Vice Chancellors pushing students to return to campuses that not one politician, government official, or university administrator will guarantee the safety of the students on, should they decide to return to class.
The back to school effort at University of Goroka is quickly turning into a giant joke in the overall circus of covering up the disaster caused by university administrators and politicians to seriously address and negotiate with an open mind the students' legitimate concerns of what is going wrong in our country today.
UOG couldn't even attract enough students to get to class for 3 weeks after the original class starting state was broadcast throughout PNG.
Three weeks later, it appears that at least a quarter of students haven't returned to class.
UOG, which trains new high school teachers for our country, is shortcutting everything in their pretense to get students through the 2016 school year with a pass.
What UOG is not doing is delivering even the bare minimum acceptable education to the students through its compressed schedule.
Contaminating the back to school efforts with political considerations, thus bending over to parent's well intentioned but obviously misguided demands, is certain to produce the least qualified students to ever come out of the PNG public university system by far. They will be the most unemployable. They will have a reputation as being a disaster in being able to apply their education in meaningful ways.
This reputation was created only because of the stubborn push by Peter O'Neill and Isaac Lupari to push the students back into school to coverup their own roles in the economic disaster that will mostly occur in the university's 2016 budgets.
What a convincing testimony of how screwed up our government priorities have become.
The article below gives the latest for UPNG's hastily thrown together classes, also under political pressure. You think the government will come up with the necessary money to carry this out at the end of the year, when our government never has any money? It's one thing for NEC to approve disbursement of money, it is quite another thing to get the money.
-------------------
UPNG TO RESUME CLASSES
11 August 2016
ALL classes at the Taurama and Waigani campuses of the University of Papua New Guinea will resume classes on Monday, September 5.
Acting chancellor Dr Nicholas Mann announced the university council decision yesterday, saying it was done after consultation with the senate.
"This decision places the onus on those students who wish to complete their semester one studies in 2016 and then continue to semester two academic programs in late 2016 and early 2017, to present themselves at their respective school offices prior to the commencement of classes," he said.
He said the application forms for resumption for the 2016 registered students to continue the 2016 semester one academic program will be available from the respective school offices on arrival.
The forms will also be available on UPNG’s webpage and open and flexible learning centers throughout the country for the students to access and all students are asked to return to classes.
He said the student unrest stemmed from shifting away from their focus of teaching and learning aspect where students were veered off to concerns not related to the University.
The National Executive Council has approved the release of K12 million to assist the university to bring academic programs on line and meet other essential expenditures including addressing security related issues and repair damage to University properties.
"We will encourage the students to seriously consider their studies and their careers and observe the protocols of the resumption process," Dr Mann said.
The dates of events associated with the resumption of the 2016 academic programs at Taurama and Waigani campuses are:
August 26-31- Arrival of students and completion of resumption forms and registration for the 2016 semester two;
September 2 - Reconciliation ceremony for churches to organise;
September 5 - Commencement of semester one which ends in October;
November 2 - Commencement of semester two which ends on December 19 for Christmas;
January 16, 2017 - classes resume for semester two of 2016; and
March 15. 2017 - semester two for 2016 ends.
-POST COURIER

==============
[Niugini Outlook on Facebook is for anyone who loves Papua New Guinea. Our site contains news and views on various hot topics affecting PNG today. We purposely offer some of the sharpest talk on the social media, because sharp talk motivates people and motivation is essential to learning, remembering, and developing into active participating citizens. On Niugini Outlook, you can find unusual and varied viewpoints aimed at stretching your mind to become more questioning and skeptical at what is happening today in PNG.
We highlight the accelerating injustice, corruption and inequality that threatens to destroy PNG and its healthy development. We try to counterbalance the existing heavy bias in the print media, especially their repetition without questioning of government propaganda. Over time you'll find that we don't have any favourites with public officials. If they misbehave, we call them out and strongly, whoever they are and no matter how beloved they might be.
We attempt to achieve our education mission through over 1,500 colourful posters and associated commentary that you can access from our main web page at www.facebook.com/niuginioutlook Feel free to browse through our site's content and use the search feature to find information on particular public officials and issues. When you see information you especially like, consider becoming a patriot to promote PNG education. Fighting ignorance effectively requires Facebook sharing, emailing, photocopying and distributing educational content about PNG issues to your friends, relatives and colleagues and posting in public places.
If you think we're performing a useful service on the PNG social media, please give our page a like, spread the word to your friends of our existence and accept our thanks!]

Popular posts from this blog

HIGHLANDS FRAUD F*CKS RUNNING GOVERNMENT AGENCY,,,

Image
A Fraudster and unqualified person has been shortlisted for NEC submission for the position of CEPA Managing Director. The candidate in question is Jude Tukulyia. His academic credentials are subject to scrutiny. Further investigation is required to verify the authenticity and legitimacy of his qualifications, particularly the reported diploma in accounting, Bachelor of Laws, MBA from Divine Word and UPNG respectively. It is very suspicious and unprofessional  when the Minister for Environment Conservation and Climate Change, Hon Simo Kilepa, wrote to UPNG Vice Chancellor asking to confirm Jude’s questioned education qualifications. This very due diligence work is the core responsibility of the Public Service Commission and Department of Personnel Management. What authority does the portfolio minister have to write to the Universities? Dumbfounding indeed if one asks. Ulterior motives written all over the letter. This amounts to  Questionable Academic Qualifications of Mr Tukulyia.    
Read more

MARAPE & PAITA ABOUT TO SIGN AWAY PNG GOLD

Image
By: Andrew Arthur Prime Minister Hon. James Marape and his planning minister Reinbo Paita are the parties behind the theft of all Papua New Guinea’s gold for the next 100 years! They have given approval for the STATE of Papua New Guinea to sign away all gold rights to an Australian paper company in Refinery Holdings PTE LTD. First, they have done the deal with a paper company even before there is a LAW that says they have the right to do the deal. We see how the real manipulation works out. Marape and Paita now need to get the law passed by Parliament. The law is before the Parliament to set up Papua New Guinea’s first National Gold Corporation. The National Gold Corporation Bill first surfaced in 2012 but successive Government of Sir Michael Somare and Hon. Peter O’Neill, in their wisdom, had refused to pass this Bill as there have been some sinister motives and constitutional issues associated with the Bill. The new bill will allow Refinery Holdings LTD PTE to own 70% of the National
Read more

AUGUSTINE MANO PNG'S PREMIER CORPORATE CROOK

Image
by  MICHAEL J. PASSINGAN In a significant setback for Mineral Resources Development Corporation (MRDC), the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea has dismissed the company's appeal to stop criminal investigations into its dealings with landowner funds held in the Pacific Balance Fund (PBF). The court ruled that MRDC's appeal was an "abuse of process" and ordered the company to pay costs of the proceedings. MRDC, a unit holder in PBF, had taken legal action against the National Court's decision to dismiss its case, arguing that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter. However, the Supreme Court disagreed and held that MRDC's appeal was nothing more than an attempt to interfere with the police's criminal investigative process. The court found that MRDC had no authority to conducted its own investigation into the activities of the Melanesian Trustee Services Limited (MTSL), the fund manager of PBF, and that its actions were in violation of the Trust Deed
Read more

PNG, VERY RICH YET STILL A VERY VERY POOR COUNTRY

Image
by GARY MONDULAME Papua New Guinea (PNG), a nation blessed with abundant natural resources, continues to grapple with economic challenges that belie its potential wealth. The nation's economic narrative is a paradox—rich in resources yet burdened by poverty. The explanation for this paradox lies not only in economic mismanagement but also in deep-seated corruption that has permeated the political landscape since independence in 1975. Following its independence from Australia, PNG was entrusted to leaders who lacked a vision for a holistic national development. This absence of foresight is evident from the lack of long-term development plans that could have distributed the country’s wealth fairly across all regions and communities. Successive governments failed to establish foundational strategies such as building satellite townships or creating robust rural housing schemes. Instead, they resorted to short-term, reactive measures that did not foster sustainable growth. The nascent l
Read more

James Marape's Missteps Openly Exposed at Australian Forum

Image
by  MICHAEL J. PASSINGAN  In a recent event that highlighted the complexities of international diplomacy and governance, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, James Marape, faced a challenging situation during his appearance at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia. The Lowy Institute, known for its role as an independent think tank focusing on international policy, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, provided a platform for a candid assessment of Marape's governance. Following his formal address, Marape engaged in a dialogue with Dr. Michael Fullilove AM, the Executive Director of the Institute. Dr. Fullilove, a respected figure in public and international policy, scrutinized Marape's past promises and statements, contrasting them with the current state of affairs in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The discussion took a critical turn as Dr. Fullilove revisited Marape's 2019 speech at the same venue, where Marape had outlined his vision for PNG in a speech titled “A New Boo
Read more

BLIND LEADING THE BLIND, WHY THE PNG ECONOMY STILL SUCKS

Image
Elizabeth Genia, Acting Governor Bank of PNG (BPNG) by MICHAEL JOSEPH PASSINGAN The economy of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is at a crucial juncture. Despite some signs of recovery, the country faces several structural challenges that continue to impede its economic progress. The March 2024 Monetary Policy Statement from the Bank of Papua New Guinea sheds light on these issues, providing a comprehensive overview of the economic landscape and the policy responses being implemented to navigate through these turbulent times. In 2023, PNG's economy grew by a modest 1.4%, a significant slowdown from the 5.2% growth witnessed in 2022. This tepid growth is largely attributed to delays in major projects and ongoing economic issues that have not been fully resolved. The anticipated growth for 2024 is around 3.0%, buoyed by the resumption of production at the Porgera gold mine. While this marks an improvement, it remains subdued compared to the potential of this resource-rich nation. One of the mo
Read more

A Call for Local Ownership and Fairness

Image
by JUSTIN PARKER In recent discussions surrounding the establishment of a gold refinery in Papua New Guinea (PNG), concerns have been raised regarding various aspects of the proposed project. Spearheaded by foreign investors, the initiative has sparked debates over ownership, exclusivity, tax concessions, underwriting, management rights, control over currency, legal protections, and historical failures. These concerns, if unaddressed, could potentially undermine the interests of PNG and its people, particularly the hardworking alluvial miners who form the backbone of the nation's mining sector. At the heart of the issue lies the question of ownership. The proposed ownership structure, favoring foreign investors with a substantial 70% stake, raises eyebrows, especially considering PNG's past experiences with failed ventures like seabed mining. Instead of ceding majority control to foreign entities, many argue that PNG should assert full ownership over the refinery. With the coun
Read more