Expansion of Relevant Education Project in Papua New Guinea

This enquiry was conducted during June and July, 2006 in Morobe, Eastern Highlands and Madang Provinces of Papua New Guinea, at the request of the National Department of Education, to identify a second target Province into which Relevant Education Project work might be extended from Simbu Province where it has operated for two years. Using semi-structured interviews the two researchers questioned the Provincial Education Adviser and senior personnel in each Province and visited 10 schools and two Vocational Training Centres that they suggested might be included in the Project. Comparing and contrasting the accumulated data and assessing it against their knowledge of the project in Simbu Province the researchers have recommended that the project be extended into Morobe Province and located at Markham Valley High School. Should a second school be required in the same Province then Malahang Technical School is recommended. Based on the experience of this intensive enquiry the discussion that concludes this report raises a number of important issues for the future implementation of the concept of relevant education.