Full Story

News

Classroom block before it was refurbished

Developing Christian Education in PNG

Trish Bartell

Mt Hagen -- Mr. Ray Bartell was appointed by BUPNG as Director of Education in 2006 and immediately established a Baptist National Education Board, and Constitution. In consultation with the Principals and Board Chairmen, a 5 year Strategic Plan was developed. It was identified that the greatest needs initially, were in accountability of the Boards and Principals and the physical development of the schools. The ‘hygiene factors' needed to be addressed before anything else and so began a refurbishment plan across 10 pilot Schools. The financial oversight and management also came under the Baptist Education Office with the implementation of policies regarding the appointment of Board members and financial control.

The Administration block after refurbishment with solar, radio and email installation

The refurbishment program
The refurbishment program included fixing up existing classroom and teacher housing and installing solar panels on 10ft poles to power up school administration, radio and radio email. The installation of the solar power and radio email has been a most significant development in the schools, particularly for the most remote schools. Once their only means of communication was to send a message in person, now they are able to contact the Baptist Education Office at just the touch of a key. Teacher houses are also connected to solar power enabling them to do away with their kerosene lamps and the classrooms are able to utilize this power for listening to music and watching educational DVD’s.

Delegates at the first annual Baptist Education Conference 'Education for Transformation'

Next steps
In 2008, Baptist Education PNG began the next step in the development of the schools, looking at what is being taught in the classrooms. In April 08 they conducted their first Teachers Conference in Mt Hagen called ‘Education for Transformation’. 120 teachers from Baptist schools across PNG attended and had the opportunity to hear from Mr. Neville Pollard from New Hope International and received training in what it means to be a Christian School and most importantly what it means to be a Christian Teacher. One participant shared during one of the sessions about what he had learned. He said “If we are going to see transformation in the lives of our students, we first must be transformed.”

Teachers from remote areas of Tekin view the NHI Effective Teaching Series using DVD on a computer powered by solar power

New Hope International Effective Teaching Series
The solar power has now enabled teachers to begin to undertake in servicing through the New Hope International Effective Teaching Series on DVD. Mr. Bartell said ‘With the current financial crisis and reductions in available funding for projects and teacher training, the DVD's have been a great way to continue the NHI Teacher training Program at minimal cost'.

Office staff in Administration.jpg

Light Educational Ministries
Baptist Education has also made a valuable link with Light Educational Ministries (LEM) through Mr. Peter Frogley who visited Mt Hagen in April this year to conduct Teacher training in the LEM Phonics Program. It was determined by the National Education Board that phonics should be taught in the early years to improve the current poor literacy standards of students. The training was a very successful time. None of the teachers had ever been exposed to English phonics before and they all learnt a great deal from the training. The Baptist Education Office is now undertaking base line literacy testing across the pilot schools in order to track progress in literacy standards over the ensuing years.

Baptist National Education Board which was established in 2007

The Baptist Education Office
Since 2006, the Baptist Education Office has expanded to include 2 National staff consisting of Development Officer (Mr. Pepa Bala) and Education Officer (Mr. David Akis). Mr. Bala spent 6 months in Australia in 2008 undertaking training with New Hope International. He gained invaluable experience and understanding from this training and is now proving to be a real asset working within the Education Office. In June this year Mr. Bartell will appoint a Welfare Officer to address the Spiritual and welfare needs of staff and students across the schools. The goal of Baptist Education is to provide a holistic approach to education addressing the social, physical, educational and spiritual needs of the students in their care.
Mr. Bartell, the Baptist Education Office and the Baptist National Education Board acknowledge the hand of God and His abundant provision in all that has been achieved over the past 3 years. God has not forgotten the people of Papua New Guinea and is doing a vital work among them for His glory.