Papua New Guinea introduces Early Childhood Education
Papua New Guinea recently transitioned to a new ‘3-6-6’ model of education, which introduced formal schooling to the earliest, formative years of a child’s education. As the new learning landscape takes root, the need is apparent for the development of a structured framework for Early Childhood Education (ECE).
KTF’s Teach for Tomorrow, Early Years (T4TEY) project works alongside provincial Departments of Education (DoE) to develop an ECE program framework and teacher upskilling program that delivers quality education to children in their vital, early formative years. Together, in partnership with DoE, trainers and KTF’s network of teachers across remote and rural PNG, are working to introduce this critically important layer of education into PNG’s schooling system, focusing on areas that are remote and rural; and often excluded from educational support and strengthening opportunities.
T4TEY develops and pilots bespoke and tailored in-service teacher upskilling and ongoing professional development program to existing elementary teachers in rural areas. The project is enabling elementary teachers to transition their skill set to deliver specialist, child-centred, age-appropriate learning to children aged three to five years, introducing the new ECE layer to the schooling system.
Morobe, Western, Central, Gulf and New Ireland provinces have commenced on their ECE journeys.
“As a mom, parent, teacher and carer, my passion for creating interesting play and learning opportunities for my children never stops. My role is to observe, guide, appreciate, and praise; and encourage positively as much as possible. Thank you for the training and support for ECE in my school. I enjoyed the outdoor and indoor activities and the creative “dance like me” activities – Great Idea! I got so much more from this training compared to any other trainings I have received to date. I am very much experiences now and interested in Early Childhood Development and Education; thank you to this wonderful, enrichment workshop.”
Teacher, New Ireland Province
KTF is rolling out the T4T Early Years project to nine Provinces across PNG.
Teach for Tomorrow, the Early Years is delivered in partnership with the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) with the support of consortia of corporate partners in Australia and PNG, including Newcrest Mining, PNG Sustainable Development Program and Kumul Petroleum.