KTF and PNGSDP Open FODE Centre at Balimo College
International Development organization, KTF has partnered with the PNG Sustainable Development Program (SDP), and the Member for Middle Fly, Hon. Roy Biyama to open a FODE centre at a new college in Balimo, Western Province.
It is the first stage of planned further developments at the college, which will see the facility eventually deliver pre-service and in-service teacher training at a School of Education as well as training for community health workers and other health professionals at a School of Health. However, given the low rates of Grade 12 school leavers, especially across remoteand rural regions in Western Province’s Middle and Lower Fly Districts, this partnership is making a concerted effort to create progression pathways for people who have not completed their secondary schooling, but who are committed to careers in teaching and health work.
“We are delighted to partner in this project” said SDP’s Media and Communications Manager, Esther Sibona. “Through our education initiative, we focus on improving primary and secondary education through scholarships; improving school infrastructure; funding school fees; using modern technology to support teachers and students in remote locations; and developing a Balimo campus to provide FODE; teacher; and health worker training,”
The FODE Centre has enrolled 105 students from across the Balimo region in second-chance education pathways, enabling them to complete their Grade 12 schooling.
“It is vital that we support people on long-term pathways into teaching and health work and to support them to return to remote communities across the Province and deliver urgentlyneeded services” said Dr Genevieve Nelson, KTF CEO. “The new facility at Balimo takes aholistic approach to supporting these career pathways and will ensure that students who commence their FODE studies with us are supported through to their tertiary studies in teaching and health work.”
The project has received great community support with volunteers taking lead in cleaning the school area, and working closely with KTF and SDP to organise minor repairs of the classrooms to ensure classes commence on time.
The Balimo government authorities have made a particularly valuable contribution by making vacant houses and buildings available for this initiative which is strongly supported by relevant health and education authorities.
“It gives me great pleasure to have opened the new FODE Centre in Balimo focused on giving opportunities to students who were unable to continue normal learning pathways and leaving at grade 10” said Minister Roy Biyama, Member for Middle Fly.
“I commend KTF who have partnered with SDP to have this learning center opened. Education is one of the key priorities of Middle Fly District 5 Year Development Plan focused at improving school infrastructures and standards in the district at all levels. Having this Open FODE Center with plans of extending to training of teachers and community health workers is milestone vision to solve the chronic shortage of teachers and community health workers in rural areas of Middle Fly District.”
The Balimo FODE students will sit their exams in November 2019.
About KTF
KTF is an international development organisation that has been operating in PNG for over a decade. Our purpose is to work with people and communities to improve the lives and futures of Papua New Guineans. We work in partnership with communities, identify their needs and strengths, and together implement projects that achieve long term changes. We have recently expanded beyond the Kokoda catchment region in Oro and Central Provinces and support communities across 16 Provinces.
Over the past decade, KTF has delivered aid and development activities in the areas of education, health, livelihoods and leadership. This has included the construction of school and aid post infrastructure, including WATSAN, along and around the Kokoda Track, delivery of educational supplies to 50 schools and drugs and medical supplies to 15 aid posts, postings of over 50 teachers and 20 community health workers, distribution of over 20,000 solar lights, and the design and delivery of the Archer Leadership program for 9 years. Over the past 2 years, KTF has trained 3,685 elementary teachers via its Teach for Tomorrow project, keeping 136,000 children in school.
www.ktf.ngo
Contacts
For media queries, please contact
In Australia:
Dr Gen Nelson, CEO, KTF
+61 412 869 210
gen.nelson@ktf.ngo
In PNG:
Anthony Nagul, Operations & Programs Manager, KTF +675 7352 5495
anthony@ktf.ngo
Or
Esther Sibona, Media and Communications Manager, SDP +675 7176 6991
esther.sibona@pngsdp.org
Newly enrolled students at the Balimo College
Dabema Tigili, Grade 11 FODE student at the new Balimo College