Bilum Books is currently in St. Francis Highschool in Nuku, Sandaun Province training a total of 166 Elementary School Teachers, with last week seeing 89 teachers receiving training. The teaching was all about instructing young children to read & write in English, in line with the National Department of Education’s (NDoE) English syllabus for Grades 1 & 2. Bilum Books Director Ray O’Farrell further elaborated on the training which was carried out in the beginning of this year. “This workshop explains the importance of Language Learning Strands in the PNG Syllabus: Speaking & Listening, Reading & Comprehension, Phonics, Common Words and Writing.” “We also explain how to use the Bilum Books Skills Based Curriculum, English Teacher Guides and Student Activity Books.” “Each school was given an allocation of books so that these teachers can return to their schools equipped with the training and the books to implement what they were taught.” The training and books are provided for under the Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE), an agreement between the PNG Government and the Australian Government; managed by Abt Associations PIE and supported by the NDoE and the Provincial Divisions of Education (PDoE). O’Farrell added that the same training has been carried out in other provinces as well. “Currently, we are in Sandaun, but PIE has also been rolled out in Central, ARoB and Enga.” “Next week we will train similar numbers in Telefomin and Tekin.” So far a total of 3200 teachers have received training in 23 courses held in the various provinces.