NCD FODE
Motu Koita FODE
In 2020 dawned with an exciting education opportunity for students from the Motu Koitabu region, traditional home to the original landowners of Port Moresby, with the opening of the Motu Koita FODE Centre. Even a global pandemic could not stop enrolments being taken for the inaugural year, thanks to quick thinking and strong partnership by all involved.
Located in a building provided by the Motu Koita Assembly Education Infrastructure Project, the Centre is operated by KTF and is nationally recognised by the PNG National FODE office. It offers Grade 9, 10, 11 and 12 studies to local students wanting to upgrade their education in the hope of pursuing further studies in the fields of health and teaching.
Pari and Taurama FODE
In 2024, KTF in partnership with the remarkable Dame Carol Kidu AO, one of the few female members ever elected to PNG’s parliament and the sole female member during her final decade of service, supported the development of the Pari & Taurama FODE Centre. This FODE program will deliver desperately needed secondary education pathways to the Taurama & Pari Motu Koita communities. These communities are facing severe ongoing challenges in receiving accessible and high-quality secondary education, in 2022, only 2% of Grade 8 students in Pari Village could secure placements in Grade 9 and continue to receive formal education. KTF's Pari & Taurama FODE Centre will be critical for delivering critical education pathways.
FODE students participate in lectures and tutorials combined with flexible study at a self-determined pace to complete modules and assessments. The centre uses a digitised version of the FODE curriculum, and all students are given a tablet in order to support their studies. Each term, students rotate between face-to-face group lectures, one-on-one tutoring, and self-directed study at home.
Post-Student profile: Eileen Waididika
KTF's Motu Koita has been instrumental in changing the trajectory of hundreds of students' lives and giving them a second chance at education. Eileen, is one of these students, after attending a high school where she and her classmates faced numerous barriers to learning including limited internet, inadequate learning facilities, insufficient funds, a lack of teachers, and outdated learning resources and materials; she was not accepted into any universities.
"These barriers are still an issue for other people today, through my observation over the years, not many of the students from that school have made it to tertiary institutions, even though they are brilliant."
Sadly, this is a common story, Papua New Guinea’s traditional education system faces pervasive and ongoing challenges, creating numerous barriers for students to navigate and extinguishing potential in even the brightest of students.
Rather than be deterred, Eileen's determination and drive led her to enrol in KTF's Motu Koita FODE to upgrade her marks and have another go at achieving her dreams. KTF's Motu Koita FODE supported Eileen by providing high-quality and holistic resourcing, ongoing education support and a flexible learning model.
"Studying at KTF gave me a second chance to do better by giving me the opportunity to upgrade my marks. In doing so, it helped me attain the required GPA to be eligible to apply for the career pathway I am so passionate about.”
Eileen is now completing her first year at Divine Word University studying for a Bachelor of Communication Arts (Journalism). She recently returned to Motu Koita FODE to interview her old teacher, Principal Dom Geary, about this year’s graduation ceremony.
"My dream job is to be a journalist, whether it may be working in mainstream media or working as an individual, all I want to do is be the voice of the people."
Eileen's journey highlights the transformative power of education. Join us in unlocking students' potential in PNG!
The Motu Koita FODE Centre is generously supported by the Motu Koita Assembly and Kina Bank. The Pari & Taurama FODE is generously supported by the Sir Theo Foundation.
