” BOUGAINVILLE Children. Children born in the north, central, south and out on the atolls. Born everyday.

To them we will bequeath our senses and sensibilities, values, wisdom, knowledge and cultural traditions. But other than this, what are they going to inherit from us and from the land of their birth and adoption.

As we discuss, debate and differ about approaches to free education, quality, spaces in schools, ratio of teachers to pupil, and the relevance of a fatigued and a lavishly wasteful system, many children still continue to miss out on education for life.

Education, starting with parents and in schools is the most important impact project-still-in-waiting to be rolled out in Bougainville. How we start and the reforms we make will determine where we end up. We must do it now and do it with care, responsibility and integrity. “

QUALITY UNIVERSAL EDUCATION IS THE BIGGEST
IMPACT-PROJECT-IN WAITING THAT CAN RELEASE BOUGAINVILLE
FROM THE SHACKLES OF ITS COMPLACENCY

Simon Pentanu

Some children will never see the inside of a classroom. Not all may go past primary school level for one reason or other. For those that do, the system starts culling and rejecting them at the end of high school. Out of those that work harder than others and graduate through secondary schools, only some can find places and resources to pay their way to tertiary education.

There is no guarantee tertiary institutions will shape, form and despatch us our young ones back to us as daring young citizens with the skills and audacity to grow Bougainville. And, anyway the universities in this country are hapless and unprepared to offer degrees if they are poorly financially resourced and cannot guarantee a safe and secure environment conducive to learning.

Are we doing enough from parenthood to the highest echelons in leadership? We are very good and quick in creating children but not so good in looking after them. Reformation of our education system is the most important and urgent impact project yet to be embarked upon.

Education is the first frontier we must prepare our children to bear their cross, starting with their parents at home. The onus in their beginning is with the parents. After enrolment to begin in schools we must ensure that the teachers in whose trust we leave the school age children have the wherewithal to start preparing our future leaders.

Trust, confidence and skills are what every parent must expect of all teachers. It is what we must also demand from our government to achieve a sustainable goal towards quality education for all. We must all bear this responsibility if we want to transform Bougainville into a sustainable and resourceful living entity.

A society without proper and relevant education is a society that will not fully realise its potential. It is a society that will predispose its new generation to an uncertain future. More than that, without proper reforms and long term planning we will resign our children to a society susceptible to abject failure and poverty.

Education, starting with parents and in schools is the most important impact project-still-in-waiting to be rolled out in Bougainville. How we start and the reforms we make will determine where we end up. We must do it now and do it with care, responsibility and integrity.

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