A two-week workshop on Financial Education aims to develop a resource material that will enhance student’s financial awareness from an early age. A Two-week Financial Education Content Alignment and Development Workshop is being held at Tuhava Resort, outside Port Moresby, from October 21st to November 1st, 2024. The workshop focuses on creating Teacher Resource Books and Student Activity Books for students in Preparatory to Grade 6. Funded by the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) and facilitated in collaboration with the Department of Education (DOE)- Curriculum Development Division (CDD), the workshop was officially opened by First Assistant Secretary – Curriculum Development Division, Steven Tandale, and witnessed by CEFI’s Executive Director, Saliya Ranasinghe, and Deputy Director, Peter Samuel. A total of 25 participants from various educational backgrounds, including primary school teachers, DOE-CDD curriculum officers, and CEFI staff, were present at the workshop. Their combined expertise will help ensure the developed materials are both comprehensive and applicable in real classroom settings. This workshop is a crucial step in integrating financial education into the national curriculum. Participants will engage in content writing and discussions to create high-quality educational resources that cover important financial topics like savings, budgeting, banking services, debt management, investments, and insurance. These resources aim to promote informed decision-making and improve students' financial awareness from an early age. The workshop also aims to align financial education content with the existing syllabus for various grades: Prep to Grade 2: Culture and Community Grades 3-5: Social Science Grades 6-8: Making a Living Grades 9-12: Business Studies A follow-up workshop will be held before the year ends to develop resources for Grades 7-12, focusing on advanced topics like investment, superannuation, and retirement. The expected outcome of the workshop is the creation of 14 essential educational resources;7 Teacher Resource Books and 7 Student Activity Books, to support financial education for Prep to Grade 6. This aligns with the national government’s priorities: Vision 2050: Emphasizes financial literacy and wealth creation. PNG Strategic Development Plan 2030: Focuses on inclusive education and financial literacy. National Education Plan (NEP): Highlights the need for a curriculum that meets local needs and imparts technical skills. Financial Sector Development Strategy: Stresses the need for a financially literate society. National Financial Inclusion Policy: Calls for financial inclusion to be integrated into the national curriculum. Since 2021, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Tandale acknowledged that while plans for developing financial education curriculum had been discussed for years, significant progress has been made since the partnership with CEFI began. CEFI Executive Director, Saliya Ranasinghe, reminded participants that it is now a must for all PNG students to undergo financial education in schools. He praised the DOE, especially Tandale, for their leadership in advancing financial literacy, emphasizing the importance of teaching these skills early to shape a better future. CEFI Deputy Director, Peter Samuel, encouraged participants to be "game changers" who will drive a positive impact for the next generation, stressing the importance of changing mindsets to prepare students for the future. This workshop marks an important step in embedding financial education into the education system, with the ultimate goal of preparing PNG’s students to become financially responsible adults.

Port Moresby Nature Park marked International Day of Climate Action on October 24th with their inaugural Climate Science fair, held within the park itself. This event was made possible through a project funded by the German Embassy Australia, titled the Climate Change and Environmental Diplomacy Project, with the campaign theme "Love Our Nature Park, Protect Our Biodiversity." The project aimed to enhance green spaces in our community and raise awareness about environmental issues. One of the project's main educational initiatives was the Climate Science Fair 2024, which gave students a chance to learn about climate science and investigate ways to solve environmental problems. In order to raise awareness of environmental challenges and highlight creative solutions to climate change, the expo gave students a chance to show off their expertise and originality. Students from different schools came together at the Climate Science Fair to work together on coming up with creative solutions and ideas to counteract the negative effects of plastic on the environment. The topic of this year's event was "Maintaining Healthy Ecosystems in Urban Areas." We were delighted to host talented students from 6 different schools. Together, these children presented their creative concepts and answers to the world's climate problems. The participating schools included: Phillips Aravure Primary, St Charles Lwanga Secondary, Kilakila Secondary, Institute of Christian Academy, Koiari Park Secondary and Paradise College. The main objective of this event was to delve into sustainable solutions and bolster climate resilience in urban ecosystems. According to Nature Park, the level of innovation showcased by the participating schools was truly remarkable, leaving our judges thoroughly impressed. “It was truly inspiring to witness the dedication and creativity of these young minds.” “Students from Grades 6, 7, 9, and 11 formed teams and showcased their problem-solving skills in the realm of climate science.” At the end of Science Fair event, all participating schools were acknowledged with certificates and ribbons, with top performers in each grade level receiving shields and prizes for their exceptional contributions. Additionally, the announcement of the unveiling of the next 10 years of the climate science fair was made. This annual event will culminate on the International Day of Climate Action on October 24th, dedicated to raising awareness about the crucial need to address climate change. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the schools that participated in the Climate Science Fair 2024.” “Your unwavering dedication and innovative ideas have undeniably made a lasting impact on our community and the future of our planet.” “We eagerly anticipate your presence at the upcoming Climate Science Fair 2025, and we are excited to welcome even more schools in the years ahead as we collaborate to combat the detrimental effects of climate change.”

On October 25th, practitioners of the Japanese martial art, Karate or ‘Karatekas’ marked World Karate Day, as a reminder of the day Okinawan masters gather in Naha and formally adopted the term Kara-Te 唐手 (empty hand). An estimated 50 million people practice karate globally, and it is said to have spread to as many as 150 nations, overcoming obstacles related to language, religion, race, boundaries, and political systems. Part of its rapid spread across the globe is due to Karate's unparalleled appeal and quality. As a "martial art for peace," karate is based on a grand philosophy that, “There is no first strike in karate” and “Life itself is treasure,” which express respect for human life. Karatekas firmly believe that karate is becoming more and more necessary in today's global society and that its benefits will only increase. The Okinawan Prefectural Assembly declared October 25th to be “Karate Day” with the hope that the Okinawan tradition of karate will develop and contribute to world peace and happiness more than ever.

The National Cultural Commission (NCC) recently supported Jona Film Productions with a cheque of K10, 000. The crew recently produced the PNG Film ‘Ples Man’ which highlights the struggles of a youth seeking unemployment in the city and also offers realistic solutions to those problems. Present at the event was David Taim (Executive Manager for Festival, Marketing, Cultural Services, and Arts Industry at NCC) representing the Executive Director of the National Cultural Commission Steven Enomb Kilanda, Director for the Jona Film Production, Ramanathan Undipaha, and representatives from the media, as well as staff from NCC. Taim stated that NCC’s primary function is to promote art and culture particularly through film which was reflected in the National Cultural Commission Mandate Act of 1994, which established the National Film Institution in Goroka. "NCC's assistance with Jona Film Production is in line with their objective to support the distribution and promotion of films throughout Papua New Guinea, thereby bolstering our local film industry and cultural legacy." "To further its goal of improving Papua New Guinea, NCC employs painting, music, and cinema. The Commission is in charge of fostering these artistic endeavors so they can flourish and influence people's perspectives.” Meanwhile Director of Ples Man, Ramanathan Undipaha spoke on problems addressed in the film, stating that to improve our own lives is through a shift in mindset. "Our uncontrolled thoughts and uncontrolled emotions are our two greatest enemies in life." "Education and spirituality can help us resolve this. One educational resource that has the power to alter people's perspectives is the Ples Man movie.” "The Ples Man Film is an educational medium that aims to teach the villagers about the abundance of opportunities that exist in their land." "They can achieve sustainable economic growth for themselves and their communities by investing in the cultivation of their resources and pursuing an agricultural career." "Agriculture provides a means of achieving self-sufficiency, generating employment opportunities, enhancing food security, and stimulating regional economies." “When villagers harness the full potential of their land, they can not only improve their livelihoods but also contribute to the country’s development.”

New Erima High School formerly Primary School currently has three projects occurring simultaneously despite facing constant lack of funding and support from the government. The school which had recently upgraded its status is now accommodating grades 9 and 10. Headmaster of New Erima Primary Division, Mr. Yola Kipungi, informed PNG HAUSBUNG in an interview today that the school is working on constructing double classrooms for Grade 9s, an ablution block for the high school division as well as an assembly grandstand with a hall despite having very little to no funding at all. He also said that the Tuition Fee Free Policy has put the school at a disadvantage. "The Government keeps saying free education and has implemented policies to stop parents from paying fees but the government is very slow in delivering funds to support the school." He added that the latest double classroom built was done with the help of parents. "Parents contributed K200 to help us construct the classroom." "But then the Tuition Fee Free Policy was introduced to prevent parents from paying any fees." "Parents took advantage of that opportunity and brought their kids to get an education but we don't have the resources to cater for a lot of students." "In spite of this, we still take in students because it's hard to say no." Kipungi is urgently calling on the government to send necessary funding to schools by the first week of each term as it is very difficult to administer academic affairs without enough funding. New Erima recently had more than 100 of their students successfully sit for their Grade 8 National Examinations as well as having their first batch of Grade 10s who sat for their exams two weeks ago. The school will also be looking at employing more teachers in the coming years.

The U.S. Embassy through EducationUSA is hosted a first of its kind 2 -day Inaugural Education Fair which began today (23/10/24) at APEC Haus. The event provided a platform for students, professionals, and institutions to explore educational opportunities with representatives from various U.S. colleges and universities. The first EducationUSA fair in Papua New Guinea showcased a range of opportunities for higher education and professional development. Participants interacted directly with representatives from leading educational institutions. Through these interactions, attendees gained critical insights into the U.S. education system, including the application process, scholarship opportunities, and academic and professional programs across fields. U.S Ambassador Ann Marie Yastishock was thrilled to bring such an opportunity to PNG. “The fair will not only open doors for individuals to pursue further education but also contribute to the professional growth of employees in various sectors.” “It represents an important step in building connections between U.S. educational institutions and Papua New Guinean future students and university counterparts." Attendees can expect direct access to U.S. university and college representatives, detailed information on scholarships and financial aid, guidance on the application process, and an opportunity to explore diverse academic and professional programs. The U.S. Embassy also invited local organizations, educational institutions, and professionals interested in furthering their education to attend this premier event. By participating, individuals gained the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions about their educational and professional futures. EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of international student advising centres that promotes U.S. higher education to students worldwide. Its mission is to provide accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States. Higher Institutions from the U.S present were: - University of Missouri - George Washington University - East West Centre - Edmonds College - Shoreline Community College - Orange Coast College - St. Thomas University - Stony Brook University The fair will continue tomorrow at Don Bosco Technical Institution (DBTI) from 9am – 5pm.

Since the month of August, Port Moresby Nature Park remains steadfast completing its aim of planting trees in the Nation’s Capital as part of its Climate Change and Environmental Diplomacy Project entitled, “Love Your Nature Park, Protect Our Biodiversity.” So far within October, the park was set to donate more than 1, 000 trees to various local communities. Recently, 500 trees were donated to Gerehu resident, Mr. Elijah Gabriel who reached out to Nature Park after recognizing the need to replant trees following a recent groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a hospital in Tete area of Gerehu, North West district. Gabriel understood that trees in the surrounding habitat would have to be cut down in order to build the hospital. He said that he would like to replace these trees for the benefit of his Tete neighborhood. Nature Park responded by presenting him with an initial 180 trees consisting of 5 different species of Native and Naturalized Trees fit for the environment at Tete. Later, Nature Park was supported by Hilton Port Moresby Hotel & Residences, who participated by distributing 5, 000 trees to 14 clans in Boera village as part of the Park’s Community Outreach Program. “Their contribution to our tree distribution activity is invaluable and much appreciated.” According to POM Nature Park, their goal is to encourage social and behavioral changes that encourage biodiversity conservation as well as build a more environmentally friendly Port Moresby. “We want to promote reforestation and afforestation (planting new trees or sowing seeds in areas where there were no trees before), raise environmental awareness, and enhance the beauty of our beauty of our capital city through distributing trees.” “Our mission is to inspire individuals, families, and children to embrace sustainable practices, with the goal of fostering a greener and more sustainable future.”

City Pharmacy Limited (CPL) and National Airports Corporation (NAC) announced the signing of a Staff Discount Agreement, which will take effect as of November 1, 2024. This strategic partnership emphasizes the shared commitment of both organizations to support the well-being of NAC employees by providing accessible healthcare and retail options. NAC staff will receive a 30% discount on all medical prescriptions and a 10% discount on all purchases at City Pharmacy, with certain exclusions such as digital products, baby formula, and concession lines according to the terms of the agreement. Until either side decides to end the arrangement with prior notice, the discount program will remain in effect at all City Pharmacy locations across the country. City Pharmacy's Head of Pharmacy, Pradeep Panda, reaffirmed CPL's resolve to offer this benefit across the country. "This is a step towards our goal of being a trusted partner and preferring a more collaborative partnership with all of our current business partners." "This agreement covers all City Pharmacy outlets nationwide, as CPL is present in 19 provinces." "NAC employees who work in other provinces can just show their NAC ID card at any City Pharmacy location in their home province to receive the savings." Speaking at the signing, Dominic Kaumu, the Acting Managing Director of NAC emphasized the importance of building strong relationships. "From these relationships, we can foster bigger partnerships, and this agreement is a prime example.” He made it a priority to attend the signing ceremony, highlighting the significance of the initiative. "Staff, for me, are the key aspects of the business - little gestures like this go a long way.” This collaboration marks an exciting milestone for CPL and NAC as they work together to deliver valuable benefits to NAC employees across the country.

Special Olympics PNG’s (SOPNG) Moni Plus Football Competition will take place this Saturday, October 12th and also the following Saturday 19th October at the University of Papua New Guinea’s soccer field. Acting Program Manager for SOPNG, Ectopia Ame stated that more than 15 teams of special athletes will be participating. “The competition will see a total of 20 teams participating, that is10 male teams and 10 female teams.” “Athletes with special needs competing in football and also united them with their unified partners from various schools and communities.” “Players will come from nearby NCD and Central Province towns and villages, as well as from NCD special schools and normal schools.” Additionally, the Special Olympics PNG was fortunate to receive support from other organizations. Digicel PNG Limited sponsored trophies and medallions worth K4,000 for the competition. Meanwhile, in the weeks leading up to October, Special Olympics PNG received assistance from Port Moresby General Hospital’s physiotherapists Lina Pilaiison and Mildred Alug who volunteered their time to conduct medical checks for 48 athletes with disabilities. The program will start at 8 AM and conclude at 2:30 PM. SOPNG is founded by interested sports enthusiasts and parents of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Programs are run by committed volunteers.

The Central Provincial Government has once again achieved another milestone in education on Wednesday 9th October with the launching of the Central Province Governor’s Scholarship Application for 2025. This was made possible with the assistance of Kumul Genius, a Papua New Guinean SME in the ICT space that designed and created this platform. Following East Sepik province, Central is the second province to use the services of Kumul Genius to help tertiary students of Central apply online to secure a scholarship from the Central Provincial Government. Governor Rufina Peter who was actively involved in supporting Central students, voiced her vision for Central Province. “My vision for Central Province is rooted in the belief that we must invest in human capital to drive meaningful change.” “My educational priorities align with the Department of Education’s mission to leave no child behind, ensuring that Universal Primary Education is realized across all districts.” “Every student in Central Province should have access to educational opportunities that enable them to complete their studies through Grade 12, while also ensuring the delivery of quality education in all institutions throughout the province.” Governor Peter added that adults have a vital role to play in the education of young people. She also challenged the students of Central to rise to the occasion in order for the province to experience development and growth. "Your parents and I expect nothing less than excellence in your academic performance." GPAs must be 2.5 and above for students to qualify for continued support. Students can apply at www.kumulgenius.com

PNG’s iconic Mal Meninga Kuri (Meninga Kuri) will be marking his 20th Anniversary in the music industry this Saturday 12th October 2024, with a performance at the Lamana Gold Club. Kuri, who hails from Porgera in the Enga province, was inspired to become a musician after watching Gedix Atege perform during the 2002 elections when a relative of Kuri’s was contesting. He recalls that he was only a child when he first had that experience. “I started to like his songs afterwards and that’s what got me interested in music.” “By 2004, I was in Port Moresby attending Wardstrip Primary School, doing Grade 7; within that year, I wrote my first single.” When asked about how he gets inspiration for his songs, Kuri replied that he draws inspiration for his songs from multiple sources ranging from personal experiences to influences from his family, friends and even his fans from various provinces. He uses these circumstances to compose songs which in turn allows the lyrics to speak to his listens. “Everyone is struggling in life; my friends may experience something, and I use that to write a song, but I also add my experiences which results in a product that everyone can listen to, relate to and also enable me to interact with my fans.” “For instance, my songs Ambai Ya and Apo Land, songs about provinces are actually about my fans.” Kuri acknowledges the studios that have assisted him in his music career, specifically T17 Records, Roots Vibration. Since 2017, Kuri has been recognized for his contributions in PNG’s music scene and has also bagged six music awards. His 20th Anniversary performance will start at 10pm Saturday night at the Lamana Gold Club, Port Moresby city. The performance will also feature other artists like Bata Rods, Shei Schaaf and Raylinda.

With 117 kids at Evara Primary School in Kikori District, dedicated and seasoned volunteer teacher Rodney Taria of the National Volunteer Services (NVS) is embarking on a quest to educate youngsters of Gulf Province. In honor of World Teacher's Day, which is observed on October 5, this is the tale of a man who was picked from 300 applications to teach at Evara in 2023 and has since grown to be a vital member of the community. He went to Pangia Primary School in 1979 and is from the Pangia district in the Southern Highlands Province. After that, he attended Pangia Provincial High School to finish his secondary education in 1988 before continuing on to Balob Teacher's College in Morobe. “Whenever the teacher used to leave the classroom, I would pick up the chalk and pretend to be the teacher.” “I used to tell my classmates, if you want to report me to teacher, then go ahead because I’m going to be a teacher.” A lifelong dream of his to teach, he began his career in 1991 in Pangia, where he was based for three years. He transferred to Central province, where he taught from 1991 to 2010. “I resigned in 2010 due to family obligations and was recruited by Ginigoada Foundation, working in various roles such as a team leader, trainer and driver while working there.” “While I was with Ginigoada, I also attended two phonics courses, on creative phonics and also child phonics, so I’ve got a good wealth of experience, and I just flow well with kids.” He noticed that it had been the trend for students to not continue their studies after Grade three, owing to teacher disappearances, which is why he has taken it upon himself to enroll and encourage students to go to school. “There were plenty of challenges that came – when I started up the school again, I saw that the school was right in the bush and had been closed for more than 10 years.” Committed to the National Government’s ‘No child left Behind’ education policy, as Operator of the Papua LNG project, TotalEnergies EP PNG Limited (TotalEnergies), partnered with NVS in 2019, to ensure there is an experienced volunteer teacher placed in Evara to educate the children. His first class of Grade four students consisted of 30-year-olds, the oldest being 34, five of them being adults between the ages of 34 – 35 years old. Now he teaches seven classes, splitting his time every day between two classes. “When I see the bigger kids, I encourage them by telling them, you are going to do grade four. “It started from nothing, even my current batch of students, they never went to elementary or had any form of schooling before this.” “I tell them, school is for everyone, there’s nobody stopping you from learning.” “Currently, I teach grades three, four and five, a total of 117 students.” “I don’t face hard times here because the kids are my strength.” He teaches Community Living, Language, English, Mathematics, Environmental studies, Physical Education and Agriculture. Next year he anticipates teaching over 200 students. “I will have my first batch of student graduate in 2027 – his ambition is to see the school upgraded into a Junior High School, because I would like to see them continue on.” “We have enough space here and can accommodate boarding students.” He has managed to draw a large number of students from the coast of Orokolo, Purari, Wabo and beyond, who opt to stay with family in Evara while attending school. “I’m really proud of my kids, they can read and write and follow along, it’s just the speaking that we’re working on.” “TotalEnergies has also given me 23 cartons of library books (1,000 books) through their partnership with Buk bilong Pikinini.” He explains that he always keeps the library open for students, to take a book and read, further encouraging them with a quiz competition for all the children on phonics every Fridays. “TotalEnergies takes care of my rations every month and NVS takes care of me on a monthly basis (allowances) so I genuinely enjoy it here.” After it had been noted as a need by the community for the teacher to have a house, the Project partnered with Pacific Development Construction to provide a teacher’s house and a new fully furnished double classroom. “I want to thank TotalEnergies; I’m privileged to live in a house like this in my lifetime so thank you very much TotalEnergies. Teaching was my dream and that dream came true. I love my job.”