Fredrick JEJERI

Student Enrolments from Markham District into tertiary institutions by 2027 and onwards are expected to rise following the signing of a scholarship Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Business Studies University (IBSU) and the Secondary School.Education officials say the partnership will create an additional pathway for academically deserving students to pursue university education, complementing the district's existing scholarship programme.The agreement, signed during a visit by an IBSUniversity delegation to Markham Valley Secondary School on Tuesday, July 7, makes the school the first secondary school in Morobe Province to establish a formal scholarship partnership with IBSUniversity.Markham District Education Inspector Jacob Hosea said the district has already established a strong record of supporting students into tertiary institutions through its scholarship programme over the past five years.Mr. Hosea said district scholarship records for 2025 show that 173 students from the district's four high schools and one secondary school enrolled at five of Papua New Guinea's leading universities. Of those, 98 students enrolled at the University of Goroka, 21 at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology, 20 at the University of Papua New Guinea, 17 at Pacific Adventist University, and 17 at Divine Word University.He said Markham Valley Secondary School alone accounted for 74 students who progressed to tertiary institutions in the latest academic year, highlighting the school's contribution to the district's education achievements.Mr. Hosea said the new partnership with IBSUniversity is expected to increase those numbers by providing another scholarship avenue for students who may otherwise face financial barriers to higher education.According to the Morobe Provincial Education Office, Wantoat High School, Ragiampun Adventist High School and Markham Valley Secondary School are among the province's top-performing schools, reflecting the district's continued emphasis on quality education.School Principal Billy Kayo welcomed the partnership, describing it as a unique opportunity that would encourage students to work harder and aspire to university education."I have been in education for a very long time, and this is one of the most unique opportunities I have ever heard about," Mr. Kayo said.According to the IBSUniversity administration, the scholarship programme is intended to widen access to higher education by recognising academic achievement and strengthening links between secondary and tertiary institutions.Education officials believe the new partnership will not only increase the number of Markham students entering university but also contribute to building a skilled workforce capable of supporting the district's long-term social and economic development.

The Institute of Business Studies University (IBSU) has signed its first scholarship Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a secondary school in Morobe Province, paving the way for eligible students to further their studies.Students at Markham Valley Secondary School in Markham District now have an opportunity to pursue tertiary studies through the university scholarship programme.The agreement was formalised on Tuesday, July 7, during a visit by the University's delegation to school. Markham Valley Secondary School, located approximately 124 kilometres from Lae City, is one of Morobe Province's largest boarding schools, enrolling more than 1,800 students each year.The MoU establishes a partnership between the two institutions aimed at creating opportunities for academically deserving students to continue their education through degree programmes offered by IBSUniversity.Principal Billy Kayo welcomed the partnership, saying it would provide students with opportunities rarely available to secondary schools."I have been in education for a very long time, and this is one of the most unique opportunities I have ever heard about," Mr. Kayo said.He said the partnership would encourage students to perform well academically and provide them with a clear pathway to higher education.Mr. Kayo also thanked IBSUniversity for selecting Markham Valley Secondary School as the first school in Morobe Province to enter into the scholarship partnership.According to the IBSUniversity administration, the agreement reflects the university's commitment to working closely with secondary schools to improve access to higher education for students across Papua New Guinea.The initiative is intended to recognise academic excellence while supporting students to develop the knowledge and skills needed for future careers.The signing ceremony was attended by members of the IBSUniversity delegation, school administrators, teachers and students.The partnership makes Markham Valley Secondary School the first secondary school in Morobe Province to enter into a formal scholarship agreement with IBSUniversity and is expected to create greater educational opportunities for future Markham and Morobe human resources. 

The Status of Education in the Markham District in Morobe province has rapidly transformed because of the good accessibility to basic services. District Education Inspector Jacob Hosea said Markham has improved a lot over the years by passing good number of students to tertiary institutions because of good support prioritize by District Development Authority (DDA) under the chairmanship of their Member for Parliament (MP), Koni Iguan. "We have produced a good number of students because we have teachers teaching in schools. ""Teachers fully spend time in classrooms because we have better road links throughout the district," Mr. Hosea said. Mr. Hosea said apart from road links, Markham has high schools in all Local Level Governments (LLGs) with a complement of secondary schools in the area unlike other districts in the province. He revealed that a good number of students are now in colleges and universities throughout Papua New Guinea basing on the data collection from last year's district scholarship. According to Morobe Provincial Education office, Wantoat High School, Ragiampun Adventist High School and Markham Valley Secondary School have been labeled as the top five performing schools in province. And according to the district scholarship data from last year (2025), 98 students have registered to study at the University of Goroka. 20 students registered at University of Papua New Guinea, 21 students registered at Papua New Guinea University of Technology, 17 students enrolled at Pacific Adventist University, and 17 students enrolled at Divide Word University. Markham Valley Secondary School on record passed a total of 74 students directly to tertiary institutions throughout the country. Schools in Markham are the only remote schools in Morobe competing strongly with schools in the capital, Lae city. 

Markham District Development Authority in Morobe, through the chairmanship of Member for parliament Koni Iguan has invested a capital funding to help a science student to venture into herbal medicine production within the district. A capital funding of K100, 000. 00 was presented by the MP to Allan Thompson on Sunday at Raginam village in Umi Local Level Government (LLG) council. Allan graduated with a Bachelor of Science major in biology and chemistry from Pacific Adventist University - PAU in 2023. After graduating, he established an herbal medicine firm known as Allan Thompson Herbal medicine and produced four different types of herbal medicine products. All his products were tested by the University of Papua New Guinea's School of Medical Health and Science laboratory with the supervision of Dr. Martha Yahimbu. Patients throughout the country, including business background individuals and politicians testified that his products brought healing within days where the demand for his products got MDDAs attention. Iguan upon presenting the funding, commended young Allan for the humble approach he took to raise an initiative to work with locals in his own electorate. "You have that qualification to produce something that a company or a country would need outside of your own district but you've humbled yourself to come work with locals in your own electorate," "The DDA, under my chairmanship have recognized your humble approach and service linked to the communities in our district." "The DDA thus had resolved to assist following a request you made to help bring part of health care which is a major challenge country is facing, "Onga Wafa LLLG Council President Willie Simbisi who accompanied the MP with his colleague LLG presidents to witness the important presentation, also shared same statement saying such humble initiatives when linked to local communities would attract developments. He said when such key human resources go work with locals in their own communities would attract government at all levels to connect roads, bridges and schools needed in a ward or LLG which will in turn totally transform an electorate. Allan says the funding he got will help him to build a laboratory at his own village to conduct more research and testing on possible ways on identifying rightful solutions to herbal medicine production for use in Papua New Guinea. He added this could help bridge that gap of bringing together traditional herbal knowledge and modern testing and validation.Going forward, Alan would at least support and strengthen efforts to improve access to safe and reliable medicine in the country, especially by reducing pressure on imported supplies and encouraging more local solutions.

THE Lae District Court has dismissed an election petition challenging the victory of Ward 17 (Wafibampun) councillor in Atzera LLG, Markham District, bringing an end to a protracted legal battle. The petition, filed by Edward Nayut, sought to nullify the election of the sitting councillor following the 2026 local-level government elections. However, the court ruled in favour of the declared winner at 10:56am on May 26, 2026, dismissing the case on technical grounds. According to Morobe Provincial Administration Legal Unit lawyer Greg Guri, the petition failed to meet key legal requirements under Section 208 of the Organic Law on National and Local-Level Government Elections. “The petitioner failed to comply with the mandatory requirement of providing at least two witnesses and did not clearly specify the reliefs sought under the law,” Mr Guri said. He further added that the petitioner also failed to comply with the mandatory 40-day filing requirement as stipulated under the District Court Practice Rules 2008 and the National Court Election Petition Rules. The court found these omissions significant enough to dismiss the matter without proceeding to substantive hearing. Ward councilors Moxie Zigin was originally declared winner on primary count with 267 votes, ahead of former councillor Kenny Buagan, who secured 97 votes. Other candidates included Richard Andrew with 87 votes, Abi Moses with 46 votes, and petitioner Edward Nayut with 45 votes. In response to the ruling, the councillor expressed gratitude to supporters in Wafibampun village and across Atzera, acknowledging their continued backing throughout the legal process. “I sincerely thank my people for their unwavering support. I also acknowledge our church leaders for their prayers and my legal team for their commitment,” Zigin said. He added that balancing official duties while attending court proceedings had been challenging but remained committed to serving his ward and the wider Atzera community. The petitioner had named the council president of Atzera LLG, Moxie Zigin, as the first defendant, along with Electoral Commission Manager for Morobe, Simon Soheke, and other parties. With the case now concluded, the councillor has called on all stakeholders to move forward and focus on development priorities in Atzera.

Brazilian Coach, Marcus Gusmao has come out to clarify that his decision to resign from the semi-professional club Hekari United FC, was driven by unmet expectations, squad composition concerns and professional accountability following what he described as a campaign that went off track from the beginning.Speaking on his decision to step down, Gusmão made it clear that remaining in the role would not have aligned with his standards or original plans for the team. “Yes, things weren’t going to work out the way I thought, so the best decision was to leave. My expectations were disappointed,” Gusmão said. According to the outgoing coach, his vision required a more experienced roster capable of handling the intensity of regional tournament football. He had strong convictions that the squad that was assembled did not match the competitive demands of the competition. “Everything went wrong from the start; the club should have brought in players from the Papua New Guinea national team. The current group doesn’t have enough experience for a tournament like this,” he stated. Gusmão indicated that recruitment and selection decisions were not fully in his hands, suggesting misalignment between technical direction and final squad choices. “Yes, but the choice wasn’t mine — if you know what I mean,” he added. He said his professional reputation also weighed heavily in the decision to exit rather than continue under conditions he believed would not produce results. “There were many problems, and my reputation was at stake. It was best to leave,” he noted. Gusmão’s departure now shifts attention to how clubs align coaching authority, recruitment strategy, and competitive goals going forward.

In a country where many young people are left behind by the formal education system, Sepik FC Education Services, through its Haniak Flexible Open and Distance Education (FODE) Centre, is proving that community-based initiatives can offer a vital second chance for learners determined to complete their education.Despite limited resources and a small student cohort reaching national examination level in 2025, the Haniak FODE Centre recorded encouraging improvements in student performance, highlighting the importance of alternative education pathways in Papua New Guinea.Out of 20 students enrolled at the centre from Grades 7 to 12, only six students—two Grade 10s and four Grade 12s—were able to sit for the FODE National Examinations this year. According to Sepik FC Director for Sports and Education Services, Mr. Clarence Hukahu, the results reflect both the challenges facing FODE centres and the resilience of students who remain committed to learning.“Many of our students come to us after dropping out of the formal school system due to school fee difficulties, family responsibilities, or lack of access to secondary schools,” Mr. Hukahu said.He noted that although the number of examination candidates was small, the academic progress recorded by those who sat the exams was significant.“Students who previously recorded fails and basic passes in Grade 10, and D grades in Grade 12 subjects, improved by one to two grade levels. This shows that with consistent support and guidance, these students are capable of achieving better outcomes,” he said.The Haniak FODE Centre operates under Sepik FC Education Services, a program that integrates education development with sports and youth empowerment. Mr. Hukahu explained that the initiative is driven largely by community support, volunteers, and modest student contributions, rather than large-scale government funding."Our work is about giving young people another opportunity to continue their education. FODE is not an easy pathway, but it is often the only option available to those who missed out on mainstream schooling,” he said.Sepik FC Education Services has confirmed that the Haniak FODE program will continue in 2026, with fees expected to remain unchanged in order to remain affordable for students and families. The fee structure includes a K170 registration fee, K150 per subject for upgrading, K60 per subject for continuing students, K2 per hour for contact sessions, and K2 per assignment for assessment marking.Looking ahead, Sepik FC Education Services plans to expand its reach beyond Haniak. Plans are underway to extend education services to Koil Island to cater for students from the Southern Islands, as well as to establish similar support programs in Port Moresby.Mr. Hukahu said the expansion is aimed at reaching marginalized youths who are geographically isolated or unable to access formal secondary schools.“Education should not stop because of where a student lives or their financial situation. Our goal is to bring education closer to the people,” he said.He acknowledged the support of Sepik FC board members, volunteers, support staff, teachers, sponsors, parents, and community members, stating that their collective effort continues to sustain the program.As Papua New Guinea continues to reform its education system, initiatives such as the Haniak FODE Centre demonstrate how grassroots efforts can complement national policies by addressing gaps in access and retention—especially for students seeking a second chance to complete their education.“Always moving forward and onwards,” Mr. Hukahu said.

A local elementary school on the border of Nawaeb and Huon Gulf districts in Morobe Province is preparing to adapt to changes in the education system.Naromangki Elementary School, established in 1999, has a student population of 137 drawn from both districts.Through the commitment of the school board and administration, the school has progressed from bush-material classrooms to permanent buildings. Despite receiving small government subsidies, effective management has enabled steady infrastructure development.The school has also installed a solar power system and computer facilities to support administration and serve the surrounding communities.Teacher-in-Charge Satibe Som said subsidies for 2024 and 2025 had been combined, with K50,000 allocated to build a four-in-one, double-storey classroom.“This is in line with education reforms as the school prepares to operate as an Early Childhood Learning Centre,” he said.Managing Director of Henry Son Construction Limited, Hending Rafi, said the project would cost about K500,000 and could be completed within six months.He said the company had more than 20 years’ experience in the construction industry and was confident of delivering professional work but noted that additional funding support would be required to complete the project.

Wawin National School of Excellence in the Morobe Province has received an Internet Connection boost from DataCo PNG Limited during its 22nd graduation ceremony this year. Established in 2001, the school was privileged to announce the Internet connection at its graduation, which saw DataCo PNG Limited's General Manager Commercial, Une O' Ome, representing DataCo PNG Limited's Chief Executive Officer Paul Komboi, who was unable to attend as the keynote speaker. "I am also very proud to announce that DataCo PNG Ltd has launched a broadband Internet connection for Wawin National School of Excellence," O' Ome stated. "The school is now connected to the Internet through fiber optic technology." "This is something that we Papua New Guineans have dreamed of having access to in schools," O' Ome added. This positive news was shared in front of 127 graduating Grade 12 students, their parents, guardians, and key stakeholders present at the event. School Principal Mr. Pal Pu expressed gratitude to DataCo PNG Ltd for its long-term investment in the school. "Your investment is beneficial for our country, where everything is now transitioning into a digital system, and it is a timely investment," Pu remarked. "We have been planning to connect this school for years but were searching for ways to start." "You have come to answer our unanswered plans, which will have a great impact on nation building," Pu continued. Students’ representative co-president Hembesause Brendon thanked DataCo PNG Ltd for the investment, stating that future generations of students would benefit greatly. "On behalf of this year's students, I am very grateful for the best network the school has in connecting with this important partner in delivering quality education for the good of our country," Brendon said.

Communities from Ward seven in Wain Erap Local Level Government (LLG) area in the Nawaeb District of Morobe province continue to lack proper access, in the form of an improved road link, to the main centers despite various developments taking place close to them. Villages like Bungki, Sintogura, and Mingima situated in Ward seven have been neglected for so long. Sintogura and Mingima villagers see airplanes landing and taking off at Nadzab International Airport daily from the mountain overlooking Nadzab, but sadly, they do not have proper access to roads. Several attempts to link road services to the communities by previous Members of Parliament (MP) and the current MP, Theo Pelgen did not eventuate, leaving the people to continue walking to access services, and even having to walk for hours to reach the main access road through Wawin National School of Excellence area. The Ward Councillor, Mr. Paul Tua said there is a road connection but government after government did not consider upgrading it to ease access. He said his ward area has a good number of vanilla, coffee and cocoa farmers but the problem is that there is no road access. "The only company vehicle that risks through the terrain mountain road is Wia trade to buy coffee." "Only the local coffee traders have limited access to board the company vehicle to reach road, but then after selling their coffee beans with the company, they board PMVs to travel back via Wawin National School of Excellence way." "Locals have the money to buy store goods, but they fear how they would transport their cargoes back home," Tua said. Mr. Gwang Philip, a local from Dinsu village at Wawin said most times locals from Sintogura, Mingima and Bungki villages carry loads of garden produce and commodities like cocoa, vanilla and coffee, spend a night with them at Wawin before travelling to their destinations. "These people from the three communities are very hard-working people. Even their villages do not have access to upgraded road, but they work very hard by carrying loads of cargoes coming down and walking up the mountains to their families and households, " Gwang said. Nevertheless, the good news is that road infrastructure projects is one of the priorities of the current MP and funds will be made available for such road links says the Nawaeb District Administration.

The proposed township at the borders of Nawaeb and Huon Gulf districts of Morobe province will definitely serve a huge population, if the government goes through with the plan to build this township. The proposed township is an initiative of former Morobe Governor Mr. Ginson Saunu, where current Governor Luther Wenge has pledged to back the proposal. The proposed township was planned to be established at where the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Livestock is operating at Wawin. According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Livestock Manager, Mr. Bamun Bange, the previous government had allocated an instalment funding of K1.5 million to an investor as a counter funding to commence the project. He said the proposed township was strategically placed at a spot where it will serve people from the far end of Nawaeb District, where services have been neglected over the years in those areas. "Communities like Fayang, Siara, Mamai, Bugeba, Sintogura, Mingima, and Bungki were forgotten Communities," he said. "Even the only national school of excellence (Wawin) in the province is situated at a grassland, about 30 minutes drive away from the Okuk national highway," Bange said.

Parents and guardians of students attending schools in Lower Watut in Huon Gulf district of Morobe, have raised concerns over the safety of their children regarding the fast-flowing Watut river. A clear indication of students' safety in relation to the Watut river was seen in students' attendances in schools along the Watut river over the years. This year, almost the majority of students withdrew from their studies following continuous rain and floods in the area. At Wawas primary school, the majority of the students did mass withdrawal without any formal arrangements that instigated inspection and investigation to schools along the area. Alipso Garap, a community spokesman of Jimin village said students' attendances over the years have been affected by Watut River. "Our kids withdraw from schools every year when it floods," "Watut river is fast and is risky. We have dug out canoes overturned by floods with loads of cargoes and passengers over the years, " "Some cargoes go missing, passengers lose their properties, and sometimes they drown," Garap said. Garap said communities and students really need foot bridges to help relief daily challenges they face in the area. Wawas primary school board chairman Awateng Kado said students from his area withdraw from studies when the flood continues, " "Students start to lose interest on their studies when they take more than three days off from attending schools." "Taking three or four days off eventually leads to students losing interest from studies." "We have no choice, but we follow how the situation is on the ground. If the education division in the province, our MP or governor, can help build foot bridges along the river linking schools, will greatly relieve our kids' daily challenges to attend to schools," Kado said. Wampar Local Level Government (LLG) primary schools inspector, Buam Damap is aware of the situation and has discussed amicable ways with parents and the school board of management on how communities and kids would have access to schools safely. Damap said recommendations will be made to the LLG council president, the district administration, and the member for parliament, Jason Peter to look for ways on creating better and safer ways for students to have access to and from schools on a daily basis. "I will do recommendations to responsible people who are in authority to consider building bridges." "Building bridges will be up to people in authority," Damap said. Damap said a primary school in the area, Wawas is on temporary suspension await response for authorities to look for ways to connect schools with bridges.