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EDUCATING FOR CHANGE An Introduction

Rev Bob Frisken AM

WHY IS CHANGE NEEDED
New Hope International works closely with Churches and their schools in the Pacific region including the South Sea Evangelical Church and the United Churech in the Solomon Islands, the United Church in PNG, the Baptist Union of PNG and more recently with Four Square Gospel Churches and the Christian Brethren Churches in PNG and the United Church in the Solomon Islands. These countries have serious problems and it would seem that there are several issues that are central to the solution of these problems.
Firstly, much of the instability and tension that has plagued the region has been brought about, at least in part, by the loss of the Christian values that once provided a unifying influence in the countries. Corruption and tribal fighting can be a consequence of a spiritual vacuum.
Secondly education is problematical in so far that most educational approaches are designed on a Western model that is individual centred and aims to provide a highly skilled workforce. However, in most of these countries there are only limited jobs for highly educated people. The long term effect of educating people for jobs that the majority cannot ever hope to obtain is to breed dissatisfaction with rural life and often disaffection, if not rebellion. These countries need an education based on strong Christian values that aims to help the community as much as the individual while still providing for the emergence of the a smaller number of highly trained people necessary for those leadership and professional jobs that are available.

Thirdly the welfare of these nations is affected by the low level of development and poor health in most rural areas. There are often few health services available, sanitation is often a major issue, villages are isolated and cut off from the world and the majority are still basically involved in a subsistence or semi-subsistence life style which means that they have few resources for purchasing those goods and services which could be used to improve their lifestyle.
Many aid agencies have tackled each of these problems but New Hope International Limited (NHI) believes that a more unified approach is needed involving a values-based education linked with community development and the provision of adequate health standards. Since no non-government organisation can tackle all these issues on its own, even in a small country such as the Solomon Islands, there is a need for a more integrated approach that will enable different agencies to work together to find solutions to these problems.

Educating for Change

BOb Frisken and Bishop Festus Suruma at the opening of the Effective Teaching Seminar in the Solomon Islands

NHI Approach
NHI is a charity primarily involved in supporting the development of an education that is based on Christian values and that recognises the importance of encouraging, developing and facilitating community development while still providing pathways for the more academically able students to be trained to fulfil the key professional and leadership roles needed in these nations.
NHI at Work
NHI recognises that this process cannot be done by agencies external to these countries but it believes there is an important role for it and other external agencies to play as catalysts for change and in supporting change in these nations. NHI primarily works though cooperation with Christian churches in these nations and seeks to harness the interest, financial support, and skills available through the Christian schools in Australia, and New Zealand to aid these Churches.
NHI is seeking to help change these nations through a a program called “Educating for Change .
Training of teachers
In 2005 NHI was approached by the SSEC Church in the Solomon Islands to provide a training program of inservice training for all its teachers to help them teach from a Christian worldview perspective. In consultation with the Church, NHI devised a program to train trainers, preferably principals of community schools or rural training centres, to teach their staff . NHI would also support them in this task by providing training manuals designed specifically for teachers who speak English as a second or third language. This program, the Effective Teaching Series is the first phase in the “Educating for Change” program that NHI is developing. The Effective Teaching Series involves a four year cycle of training through intensive week long seminars.
Community development
The next stage will involve helping to change the way education is offered by encouraging a more integrated and holistic approach to schooling. A key concept in this approach the changing of the current educational paradigm towards an approach that understands schools as learning communities that involve all ages and members of a local community and see the school becoming a focus of community development.
Growing Agents for Change
The third stage will involve assisting NHI seeking to encourage churches to work together to develop ways of developing well educated and articulate young leaders who can help to bring change to their country. These young people will need support through contact with overseas thinkers and ideas, and through prayer and practical, support if they are to be involved in making change.
Creating awareness of the needs of under- developed countries
Much of its work involves helping schools in Australia and New Zealand to become aware of the needs of people in the poorer countries of the world, including those in our own region. This involves communication through newsletters, talks and seminars at conferences and through its Webpage www.newhopeinternational.net It offers training visits for teachers, called Mission Challenge visits, to give teachers in schools firsthand experience of life in an under-developed country. It facilitates and assists schools that wish to send mission teams to overseas countries. Currently NHI has associated schools working in over 18 countries.
Mobilising Action
From time to time as it becomes aware of specific needs in poorer countries NHI will launch appeals to its network of schools to provide financial assistance. These projects usually have an educational focus such as providing text books for schools, assisting in the repair or construction of school buildings.