NDoE LAUNCHED 3-S PROGRAM IN CENTRAL PROVINCE

CAPTION: Students of Iobuna Kouba Primary School in Koiari, INSET: George Sikin, First Secretary to Governor Rufina Peter.

BY SHARON AGAVI

THE National Department of Education (NdoE) launched the Smarter Safer Schools (3-S) Programme in Central province yesterday, in partnership with the Government of Australia and UNICEF.

The launch was officiated at at Iobuna Kouba Primary School in Koiari, supporting Papua New Guinea’s 1-6-6 education reform by strengthening school leadership and governance, improving teacher capacity in foundational literacy and numeracy, expanding access to digital learning, integrating climate resilience and child protection into School Learning Improvement Plans (SLIPs), and reinforcing inspection, monitoring, and data systems to improve accountability.

The 3S programme is a 4-year AUD 33 million (more than 100 million kina) investment by the Government of Australia to PNG with Central province to see the launching of the programme.

Central Provincial Education Advisor, Marybrenda Kasokason, says the province has been overlooked in the past and it is time students are given a fair share of national initiatives.

Meanwhile the program will operate in 600 schools across six provinces, starting with Central and Western Highlands, before expanding to East Sepik, East New Britain, and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

First Secretary to the Governor for Central province, George Sikin, says the province is honored to see the national launch, crediting Governor Rufina Peter for her efforts in driving integral development.