The National Department of Education (NDoE) were in a state of indignation as word reached the department of PNG textbooks being sold illegally in a shop. First Assistant Secretary for Curriculum, Steven Tandale led the foray into Byron Supermarket on Wednesday 29th, May with Police Station Commander for Gordons, Inspector Gabriel Kini, Principal Legal Officer for the department, Dominic Maelin and other members of the NDoE. Several Primary level textbooks and few secondary level textbooks, written, designed, and printed by the NDoE were seized from the shop’s shelves as evidence against the shop owner and taken to Gordons Police Station. The textbooks taken were Arts Teacher Guides (Grades 4 & 5), English Teacher Guides (Grades 6 & 7), Mathematics Teacher Guides (Grade 8, English Textbooks (Grades 3, 4 & 5), Science Teacher Guides (Grades 7 & 8, National Science Textbooks (Grade 5), Social Science Outcomes Student Books (Grades 6, 7 & 8 and Home Economics Book 2 (Grades 9/10). It was also discovered that the NDoE’s ‘Free Issue; Not for Sale’ message printed on the front and back of the textbooks was blotted out from preventing buyers from knowing the initial status of the materials. Tandale spoke with deep concern about the situation stating that such practices were not only against the law, but it was unfair to the students who should be benefitting from the textbooks. “These materials are freely issued by the government of Papua New Guinea, through the Department of Education and printed with the help of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).” “They are not for sale but should be distributed to schools in the country for the students benefit – these textbooks are not meant to be sold on the streets or in the shops.” He added that electronic copies of the books were also available on the internet to make them accessible to everyone. Principal Legal Officer for the department, Dominic Maelin expressed the need to track down who exactly is responsible for the textbooks wounding up in shops. “We need to find out how these books not going according to their intended routes.” “We have identified one shop, but need to identify others who are responsible – whether they are teachers in schools or the officers in the education department.” Gordons Police Station Commander, Inspector Gabriel Kini supported both Tandale and Maelin stating that individuals and businesses who are involved in the illegal trading of educational materials must be held accountable for their actions. Approximately 920, 000 textbooks are printed and distributed annually – one copy per child.

A total of 80,015 grade 10 students from 489 high and secondary schools nationwide have been nominated to sit for this year’s Written Expression Examination on Thursday, June 6, 2024. All provinces and schools have received their exams, according to the nomination data received by the Measurement Services Division in Port Moresby. Dr. Uke Kombra, Secretary for Education, encouraged all students, teachers, and provinces to do their best and ensure that the exams are conducted fairly and to the best of their God-given abilities. "I call on all the citizens of Papua New Guinea to support and abide by the fair administration of the exam." The Secretary has also requested that all schools have their Registration Documents filed with the Department's School Registration Committee, as no school will be permitted to take the objective examinations without proper registration. Dr. Kombra has also warned all schools against any mal practices relating to the national examinations. ” The Department has a zero-tolerance on cheating or any mal-practices as evident in the de-registration of Goroka Syntax Secondary School in Goroka, Eastern Highlands after investigations by officials from the National Department of Education, Provincial Division of Education and the Police found irregularities by the school in the 2023 National Examinations.” Students and schools are being warned of serious consequences which include non-certification for students, termination from teaching for teachers and banning of the schools involving themselves for a minimum period of 3 years. “We have eliminated cheating in examinations; therefore, results are based on hard work and offer better education benchmarks.” “I wish all the grade 10 students ‘best of luck' in their first national examination for 2024 on Thursday, June 6.”

Officers for League bilong Laif, a sport for development program, are actively engaged at Gerehu Primary School aiming to promote education, health, respect, social inclusion, and gender equality through rugby league whilst collaborating closely with teachers. Mr. Saven Nawen, one of the dedicated teachers at Gerehu Primary School faces the daily challenge of managing student attitudes in his classroom of 49 students, consisting of 26 girls and 23 boys. "Gerehu Primary is big and managing student attitudes here presents a significant challenge." "But I strive to do my best, though at times it's an uphill battle." The LBL team inspires children to embrace school, develop positive behaviours, and foster mutual respect. Mr. Nawen credits the LBL program for the notable shifts in student behavior and attitudes, especially during their engaging sessions. “When the LBL team arrives, the students are visibly elated." “This program has greatly improved attendance in my class, tackling absenteeism head-on." Notably, Mr. Nawen emphasizes the noticeable improvement in the classroom atmosphere, with boys and girls learning to respect each other. "I've witnessed behavioral transformations in my students, and that brings me immense joy." Praising the program for its positive impact on his students' behaviour and academic engagement, Mr. Nawen expressed his appreciation. "I believe LBL has the potential to empower our students, paving the way for a brighter future." He envisions an expanded reach for the LBL program, extending its benefits to more schools and gaining parental support. "I believe LBL has the potential to empower our students, paving the way for a brighter future." League Bilong Laif is a collaborative effort involving the Australian government, NRL PNG, PNGRFL, and the National Department of Education. Currently operational in NCD, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, and Morobe Province, LBL is championing positive change through sport and education.

The Port Moresby edition of the Trukai Fun Run Auction, held on May 24th, proved to be a major draw for residents and the local business community, with 4,900 t-shirts sold and K122,500 raised. The auctions are a precursor fundraising event for the annual Trukai Fun Run, which aims to promote unity in diversity under the theme Our Steps, Their Dreams. All funds raised will be used to support Team PNG's participation in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in July. The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) and Trukai Industries Limited, key stakeholders in the Trukai Fun Run, would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the Port Moresby business community for their ongoing support of Team PNG. The organizations are especially grateful for the generous support and attendance at the Trukai Fun Run Auctions by government entities, business owners, and residents in support of Team PNG and the local schools that benefit from the auction. Team PNG Chef de Mission to Paris 2024, Ryan Pini took a moment to recognize and thank the Trukai Fun Run major sponsor, Trukai Industries Limited, and the top 3 bidders at the t-shirt auction – Sir Brian Bell Foundation at 1st, IBS University at 2nd, and International Training Institute Port Moresby at 3rd – for their invaluable support. “I would like to extend my warmest gratitude towards the major sponsor Trukai Industries Limited for their unwavering support.” “Your contributions will play a pivotal role in this year’s Olympic Games; we are grateful for your commitment towards Team PNG.” “Your generosity is truly inspiring and gives us the motivation to continue our efforts to provide the best possible launch pad for our Team PNG athletes.” Trukai Industries Chief Executive Officer Alan Preston acknowledged the organizations that participated in the auctions and expressed gratitude to the business community for its commitment and support of Team PNG. He expressed his appreciation and optimism for the annual Trukai Fun Run. "We are looking forward to working closely with the PNG Olympic Committee to make the Trukai Fun Run another memorable event." "This year the Trukai Fun Run event will be held on June 23rd, and we anticipate it will be bigger, better and safe for all to attend."

Like their counterparts, the Grade 10 students of Malabunga Secondary, one of the largest day and boarding schools in Kokopo, East New Britain are also preparing for their upcoming Written Expression Exams on June 6th. A total of 428 Grade 10s will be sitting for their Written Expression Exams in 2024 compared to 2023 which was 334 Grade 10s. Principal of Malabunga Secondary School Mr. Bruno Kulai confirmed these figures as he stated that a lot of primary school students in East New Britain are passing their exams to get into secondary school. “The population of Grade 10s we have now is enough for six classrooms, whereas last year we only had five classrooms – that’s roughly 60 students per class.” Students have already sat for their mock exams, which were the 2022 and 2023 papers. Mr. Kulai also mentioned that he was looking forward to his students’ performance in the upcoming exams next month and commended the province’s past results. “In East New Britain our students perform outstandingly in Written Expression.” “Both the Grade 10s and 12s do exceedingly well; hence we’re anticipating another good year.” Mr. Kulai also mentioned that schools in the province were considering a close up by next week if their Government Tuition Fee Subsidies (GTFS) did not reach the schools. “Most of the schools in the province received their GTFS on Friday 24th May, but the funds arrived during week six, when it should have arrived by week one or week two.” Presently, Malabunga Secondary School is responsible for educating a total of 1438 young minds.

Members of the Baha’i community in Port Moresby, visitors throughout the four regions in PNG, other parts of the Pacific including distinguished guests were fortunate to witness the inauguration and dedication of their newly constructed House of Worship at Tokarara on Saturday 25th, 2024. The structure, inspired by the traditional craft of weaving, was initiated in 2019 and finally completed in 2024. Chairperson of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’i’s of PNG, Tony Lakame remarked that the House of Worship stood as a crowning achievement of the Baha’i’s countless acts of service. “Each steel represents a story of love, sacrifice and perseverance – we are inspired by those who have applied the teachings of their faith towards the betterment of the world.” NCD Governor Powes Parkop who was present at this auspicious event commended the Baha’i community. “The establishment of the national Baha’i House of Worship in Port Moresby is a testament to the unity and collective spirit of the Baha’i community.” “It is a beacon of light, inviting all to come together in prayer, in reflection and in harmony.” This year is also the Platinum Jubilee, the 70th Anniversary, of the Baha’i Faith in PNG marking the establishment of the faith in 1954 before the country achieved its independence. The House of Worship was officially opened to the public on Monday 27th May 2024. Currently, there are around 60, 000 Baha’is located in more than 250 localities across PNG, spanning through to the New Guinea Islands, Highlands, Momase and parts of Southern. The Baha’i Faith is an independent world religion and is not a sect of Islam as many mistakenly believe. Baha’i’s believe in the same God as Christians do.

South Pacific Brewery Ltd, a HEINEKEN operating company, continues to prioritize human resources by investing in employee training and development opportunities. The company's Short-Term Assignment Program allows employees to improve their skills and knowledge while also contributing to their host OpCo and SP Brewery's success. Since 2018, SP Brewery has sent staff members on STA Programs to other HEINEKEN OpCos in the Asia Pacific Region. One of them is Andrew Tobe, who was recently appointed as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Manager at HEINEKEN Malaysia Berhad. Mr. Tobe is the first Papua New Guinean to hold this position. This significant achievement reflects the talent pool within the company and further demonstrates Papua New Guinea’s human capital strength to compete and contribute effectively on a global scale. Andrew Tobe has extensive experience in IT operations and a thorough understanding of the Digital & Technology (D&T) market, having spearheaded D&T initiatives in PNG. Prior to his appointment, Andrew served as the Information Security Supervisor at SP Brewery in 2021, ensuring that SPB met HEINEKEN's Cyber Security Standards. He was instrumental in increasing SPB's security awareness and compliance status. He also contributed significantly to major ICT projects across various functional areas of the business, such as OneHR, PCD VersionDog, the migration of JDE Legacy to the Singapore Cluster, and the rebuilding of the Brewmax System in the Lae brewery. Andrew began a virtual Short-Term Assignment as Cluster Cyber Security Officer with HEINEKEN Malaysia Berhad on July 1st, 2023 (ending December 31st). He was stationed in Papua New Guinea during this assignment. In January, Andrew began an in-person Short-Term Assignment with HEINEKEN Myanmar as the Cluster Cyber Security Officer. Aside from his short-term assignment, Andrew has been appointed as HEINEKEN Malaysia Berhad's PCI DSS Manager. Andrew will support HEINEKEN Malaysia Berhad's PCI DSS Programme and ensure that it adheres to the Global HEINEKEN PCI DSS Standard.

Jacks of PNG’s 2024 Design PNG Competition announced their winners on Thursday May 23rd at Jacks of PNG, Central Waigani in Port Moresby. Competition began on the 22nd, February 2024 and closed on March 31st marking the competition’s fourth year. Out of 383 entries, the winners: Mike Joseph from Mt. Hagen (absent), Lele Leonard Hanul and Solomon Waibaru from Madang, were the lucky recipients of K2, 000 and were also entitled to K10, 000 in royalties. Both artists had the honour to explain their designs to the audience and customers present. Lele Leonard Hanul explained his three designs which he names, ‘The Great Fisherman’, ‘A Great Warrior’ and ‘Design of the Oro Butterfly’. “The design of the Great Fisherman demonstrates how the fisherman equips himself with his fishing gear and mode of transportation (canoe) while on a fishing trip.” “The next design, which is the design of a Great Warrior, shows the warrior dressed in his traditional attire – his headdress includes the Bird of Paradise.” The third design he explained shows the bird wing butterfly from Oro Province. Solomon Waibaru stated that he took inspiration for his design from artefacts. “The selected design was a necklace design which can be found in Milne Bay Province where you will see dancers wearing such similar designs during dances.” Presently, Jacks has worked with 11 designers in PNG and roughly of K160, 825 have been paid out in royalties. Asiani Vagi, who is part of the PNG Olympic Committee, in her opening remarks stated that it was a delight to see such talented individuals in PNG. Participants whose design did not make the final three will have their designs returned to them or they can have their designs destroyed in the presence of a police officer.

Despite the recent unfortunate event where their science laboratories were lost to a fire on Friday during morning hours, 250 Grade 10 students at Good Shepherd Lutheran Secondary School in Madang province are determined and focused on preparing for their upcoming Written Expression Exam, scheduled for June 6th. Principal Mr. Ben Tamilong shared that despite the challenges faced, the school had previously scheduled mock exams to aid the students in their preparation. “The first mock exam, based on the 2022 paper, was administered two weeks ago, and the second mock exam, featuring the 2023 paper, is set to take place this Thursday as planned.” “There will be no disruptions or deferrals in the students' exam readiness leading up to the crucial exam week in the coming month.” The school's Principal also mentioned that despite the loss of the labs, the school has not been deterred in its efforts to equip the students adequately for their exams. Additionally, in response to inquiries regarding GTFS funds for term 2, Mr. Tamilong shared that the school had recently received slightly over K150, 000, which will be utilized. “Part of these funds will be allocated towards procuring the necessary equipment required for the upcoming science exams.” These funds were confirmed to have been received within the time-frame ranging from last Friday to this week Monday.

To ensure the successful preparations for the much-anticipated Papal Visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) has devised a comprehensive plan that is set to involve a significant number of approximately 7, 000 youths. With just four months remaining until the arrival of Pope Francis in September, the dedicated efforts in organizing this extraordinary event have already been set in motion. Anticipation is high as the event promises to attract a diverse array of attendees, not only from PNG, but also from neighboring regions such as the Solomon Islands, creating a truly global gathering. With the anticipated large turnout, the CBC has emphasized the crucial role that the youths will play in assisting with the smooth flow of the event, highlighting the need for marshals to help maintain order and manage the crowds effectively. “In all the dioceses in PNG, roughly 100 individuals from each diocese will attend, and most of these individuals will be young people.” “It is our desire for as many young people to come and be a part of this spiritual event.” Pope Francis’ visit is scheduled from September 6th – 9th, 2024.

The PNG Barramundis have arrived in the West Indies for the ICC T20 World Cup Tournament. After an exhausting four-day journey, the team has arrived in St Kitts, where they will spend the first round of training sessions and practice matches. The PNG Barramundis, who are part of the support team for the ICC T20 World Cup, benefit from the invaluable expertise of specialist Coach Phil Simmons, a former West Indies cricketer and Trinidadian all-rounder with over 40 years of cricketing experience. This is why Simmons is in this position with the PNG Barramundis, returning to his home territory where he played as a youngster for the West Indies and now serving as a specialist coach. The towering athlete's impeccable career has included domestic representation with county teams such as Border and Easterns in South Africa, Durham, Leicestershire, and Wales Minor in England and Wales, as well as his home country of Trinidad and Tobago and, of course, the West Indies Cricket Team. Simmons has coached the national teams of Zimbabwe, India, the West Indies, and, more recently, Afghanistan. “My role here is as a consultant coach and how I put across my experience, not just playing in world cups but playing in the Caribbean and the things that we should be looking at to make sure we do it right in the Caribbean and especially the venues that we play at,” said Simmons. “As a player internationally, for fourteen years and then as an international coach for eighteen years it’s been a long time in the game.” “It’s always brilliant to come home, always brilliant to come back to any part of the West Indies." “I’m looking forward to getting home to Trinidad. Having people come here, me getting back here, it's always a great thing, it’s always something to look forward to.” He commented on the PNG Barramundis and their arrival and going straight into their training. “Their energy is unbelievable! Their warmups alone yesterday, got me tired; the guys look like they have settled in really well.” “On Sunday in training we started to get out in the middle of their game, so they started on some of the things they have to do here in the Caribbean and it's nice to see the energy that’s among this squad.” “I’ve known the head coach (Tatenda Taibu) for a long time and he’s always energetic, there is always a lot of energy but the players seem to be pushing him where that is not so and I like that atmosphere in the team, I like the liveliness in the team.” The first practice match was played against Canada over the weekend, with more practice matches planned throughout the week as the team adjusts. The first match was delayed slightly due to a rain squall.

Prime Minister James Marape has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the PNG men's cricket team, the Barramundis, on their recent qualification for the 2024 Twenty20 Cricket World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA. As the Barramundis left for the World Cup this week, Prime Minister Marape extended his best wishes to the team's management, coaching staff, officials, and players. "You are not only participating in a World Cup; you are also representing our great country, Papua New Guinea." “This significant achievement makes my government and the people of PNG extremely proud." The Prime Minister praised the team's passion and dedication to cricket. "As you wear the PNG colours and face your opponents, remember that your country fully supports you.” “You are the best of the best, and I am completely confident in your abilities and sportsmanship." The Barramundis will compete in the tournament from June 1-29, 2024, as champions of the East Asia-Pacific Region, following a strong qualifying round under the International Cricket Council system. The team left PNG on Monday and will play a few warm-up matches before the official tournament begins. Prime Minister Marape concluded his remarks with a rallying cry for the players. "Aim high and give your absolute best.” “You have been chosen to represent our country because you are worthy of the honour.” “Remember, every victory you achieve on the field benefits all of Papua New Guinea."