EDUCATION SECRETARY OPENS 2026 NATIONAL RATINGS CONFERENCE

BY JORDAN VELA

Education Secretary Dr. Uke Kombra has officially opened the 2026 Annual National Ratings Conference at the Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby, bringing together provincial education advisers, school inspectors, church education agencies and development partners to review 10,637 school inspection reports submitted nationwide.

The conference aims to strengthen the National Education System by integrating the National Teachers Standards and National School Leadership Standards into the Teacher Appraisal System. The approach is intended to establish a consistent, fair and evidence-based process for assessing teachers and school leaders, identifying professional development needs and recognising outstanding performance.

Dr. Kombra also called for school inspections to go beyond administrative compliance, urging inspectors to identify weaknesses in school leadership, teaching practices, discipline and student safety.

He said proactive inspections and early reporting of emerging problems were essential to preventing school conflicts, protecting students and improving the quality of education across Papua New Guinea.