During last week, a very important event was held in Lae; The Senior Education Officers Conference. In leading the event, Education Minister Hon. Nick Kuman addressed the conference and raised many issues and concerns in a very transparent manner. These issues raised by Minister Hon. Kuman were all key to establishing the future of the Education Department. The Ministers address set the tone for the conference with "change, delivery, and transparency" being the key words for the event.
One particular item that caught news headlines after the introduction and statement by the Minister was the TFF allocation of funds potentially totaling K55 million, to schools that had inflated student numbers. Minister Hon. Nick Kuman commented, “I have been in the role as the Minister of Education for over 12 months. There is no need to hide the fact that the department is in need of an overhaul. I was given the large task by the Prime Minister to work through a process of change management and organizational restructure. Our Department policies and procedures are being addressed and corrected to ensure we are delivering a quality education system. I am in this role to make informed decisions that deliver results; to do this I need to have the legitimate facts and precise numbers. I agree with the Opposition Leader that our Education System has not evolved to where it should be and that we need to improve audit and data verification our processes. The comments by Mr. Ganim, Wabag MP in yesterday’s media is one that is simply not true. I have not at any point misled parliament or the people of PNG. However, Mr. Ganim comments regarding the lack of correct data within the department are factual. This issue extended well beyond my tenure as the current Minister of this department, and we are now well on our way to correcting this situation. Having clear and correct data available is a key task that I have been addressing, and one of the key reasons why we now have a new secretary within the department. I needed new people to implement the drastic change required. I need to commence the change in attitude with the Governors, Provincial Mangers, Department Heads and all key stakeholders involved with the Department of Education. We need to adopt a collaborative approach that ensures service delivery at all levels. I then need the provincial administration to work together to deliver the departments policies to achieve the positive outcomes our teachers and students deserve. The conference in Lae was an opportunity for myself to be open and transparent about all the issues. These issues are not limited to the Department and extend through the Teachers Services Commission, the Provincial Education Officers, Provincial Administration and into our schools. The point of this…WE ARE MAKING CHANGES. For the past ten years, our Education system had not evolved and this is not good enough. It is important to understand the only reason we are now able to identify the issues surrounding TFF payments to schools and incorrect enrollment numbers; is due to the improvements we are making towards having correct data, the correct processes and correct people to manage these systems. In my recent speech to the delegation attending Lae conference, I raised serious concern over the additional payment of K55million. This funding was outside the budgeted allocation for the first payment of the TFF, and occurred without the correct verification and justification of the data. On knowledge of this additional funding to meet the Governments commitment of TFF payments to schools as per enrollment numbers. I directed the previous Secretary to quarantine the K55million until all student enrollments were verified and audited. These instructions were not followed and K35.4million was released contrary to my initial directive. I am here to ensure that this department operates with good governance and that this department operates in accordance to policy and audit procedures. We are holding the balance of the additional budget (K20.5miilion) and this will not be remitted until the verification and audit is completed for the 3,000 plus schools that have additional student enrollments outside acceptable percentage increases. As a Department we are moving forward and we have met all TFF obligations with 100% of the first round payments completed. Our payment schedule was completed as follows: - K185.4million – General Education – paid 22nd February 2015 - K4.3million – permitted schools and distance education – 6th March 2015 - K97.8million – General Education – 2nd April - K55million – Additional Budget (released funds K35.4) Total (100% TFF funding – 1st payment) – K342million Our second round TFF payments will be completed by the end of July, with additional audit procedures further ensuring that correct payments are being released. I recognize and acknowledge the importance of the data for all of our Teachers, Students, TFF and the current infrastructure of our schools. However, we need one all-encompassing database. I have made a very clear and concise call to strengthen collection and analysis of raw data. We need this aggregated and appropriate school enrolment data in order TO TRACK, MONITOR, AND EVALUATE THE DELIVERY OF EDUCATION TO THE COUNTRY. THIS WILL INFORM POLICY AND ENABLE STRATEGIC DIRECTIVES, AND MAKE DATA EVIDENCE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO STAKE HOLDERS INCLUDING THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. The time is now; our education system has been waiting to long for the implementation of real structure that provides sound evidential data to be able to create our PNG Education Policies for the future. The National School Survey (NSS) and its recommendations will be critically examined. This data will be assessed to see its relevance to the current information issues with all recommendations being interrogated prior to the full implementation commencing. The NSS provides the foundation for the implementation of a centralized data collection and a nationwide implementation that allows data to be overlaid to plan for the future of our education system. This critical data will allow the department to plan for the future, providing insightful data. We will track student population growth, allowing for considered and thought out teacher placements based on student population growth. We will have the foresight for new schools to be built in the correct areas based on population demand. Our data collection processes and systems for the first time in our education history will be keeping pace with the change in our country. Dr. Uke Kombra is working on proposed management plan for the TFF that will be tabled to the NEC for approval. The proposed structure is to implement an Independent TFF Secretariat (ITFFS). The Department of Education will take on the role to oversee the ITFFS. The new ITFFS will establish 21 provincial offices in an overseeing body in the implementation of TFF Policy including the management and reporting of TFF to the Department. Once NEC approves this policy we can start the process of change and see improvement across the country. We have over 13,000 schools across the country with very basic data that in many cases is out of date or incorrect. To place this in perspective, the 2013 National School Survey with 89 Districts, the Department received 78 completed with 11 outstanding. The National School Survey is now complete. I am expecting a completed report that will outline and provide recommendations around the structures and policies required to manage our schools now and into the future. Our TFF program has been funded by the Government and had clear legislative support and policy processes in place. This program needs to have stronger audit and data interrogation processes to ensure correct funding and management. We have over 48,000 teachers, over 13,000 schools, and over ten years of mismanagement of our Education system. I am about delivering the right solution, in a prompt manner; that provides our children the best possible education now and for the future.
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