title: Investigating National Curriculum Implementation in Papua New Guinea (PNG)

authors: Kekeya, Joseph Lingawa

subjects: curriculum, learning, student, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, mediation, internationation, activity, macro-curriculum, micro-curriculum, student-experienced curriculum, teaching

abstract: There is a national concern in Papua New Guinea (PNG) about re-construction of social systems because the education offered was irrelevant to the needs of the PNG society. The Government of PNG reformed its national education system and developed and implemented a new national curriculum for human and societal development for elementary, primary and secondary education sectors. The purpose of this study was to investigate some PNG teachers’ pedagogical decisions and actions and the nature of student learning and development in the implementation of this new national curriculum in contemporary classroom contexts. The study was carried out in two PNG schools - one an urban church school and the other a rural government school. The understanding, perceptions and ‘lived-experiences’ were explored in the implementation of the new national PNG curriculum of twelve teachers and forty-eight students (six teachers and twenty-four students in each school). Within an interpretive research paradigm, a qualitative case study approach was employed to generate data, using interviews, video observations and documentary analysis as data gathering tools. The data were analysed inductively and grouped into themes around the key research questions. The findings of the study were underpinned by theoretical frameworks of behaviourist and constructivist pedagogies of curriculum development and delivery. The study found that the PNG teachers adapted the new national curriculum by applying iterative interpretation processes to construct their own interpretation. The teachers identified and selected appropriate international knowledge and integrated this with suitable and relevant PNG indigenous knowledge. This integration is the basis on which the teachers constructed new knowledge or realities, which they delivered to the students using both constructivist teaching approaches and traditional behaviourist teaching approaches. Although the teachers’ constructed realities or knowledge appeared to be superficial rather than deep and problem solving in nature, the PNG students mediated on the teachers’ realities, and constructed their own individual and shared realities. The student learning is being described in this thesis as the long-term learning that results from micro-curriculum implementation.

text: Investigating National Curriculum Implementation in Papua New Guinea (PNG) There is a national concern in Papua New Guinea (PNG) about re-construction of social systems because the education offered was irrelevant to the needs of the PNG society. The Government of PNG reformed its national education system and developed and implemented a new national curriculum for human and societal development for elementary, primary and secondary education sectors. The purpose of this study was to investigate some PNG teachers’ pedagogical decisions and actions and the nature of student learning and development in the implementation of this new national curriculum in contemporary classroom contexts. The study was carried out in two PNG schools - one an urban church school and the other a rural government school. The understanding, perceptions and ‘lived-experiences’ were explored in the implementation of the new national PNG curriculum of twelve teachers and forty-eight students (six teachers and twenty-four students in each school). Within an interpretive research paradigm, a qualitative case study approach was employed to generate data, using interviews, video observations and documentary analysis as data gathering tools. The data were analysed inductively and grouped into themes around the key research questions. The findings of the study were underpinned by theoretical frameworks of behaviourist and constructivist pedagogies of curriculum development and delivery. The study found that the PNG teachers adapted the new national curriculum by applying iterative interpretation processes to construct their own interpretation. The teachers identified and selected appropriate international knowledge and integrated this with suitable and relevant PNG indigenous knowledge. This integration is the basis on which the teachers constructed new knowledge or realities, which they delivered to the students using both constructivist teaching approaches and traditional behaviourist teaching approaches. Although the teachers’ constructed realities or knowledge appeared to be superficial rather than deep and problem solving in nature, the PNG students mediated on the teachers’ realities, and constructed their own individual and shared realities. The student learning is being described in this thesis as the long-term learning that results from micro-curriculum implementation.

year: 2013

title: School cultural features and practices that influence inclusive education in Papua New Guinea: A consideration of schools in Southern Highlands Province.

authors: Rombo, John Longo

subjects: school culture

abstract: Inclusive education is a recent phenomenon in the education system in Papua New Guinea. It is about giving equal educational opportunities to all children, whether with disabilities or not in the regular school or classroom.  Schools are considered as social institutions that should endeavour to enhance all children's lives through appropriate teaching and learning practices.  However, the school culture, which is generally defined as 'how things are done here' is vital for the promotion of inclusive practices. The main aim of this study was to identify the school cultural features and practices that influenced or did not influence inclusive education, and the impact on inclusion.  Teachers and school administrators appeared to play a vital role in enhancing inclusive practices through their practices.

The study was based on an interpretive/naturalistic research paradigm, the qualitative research approach and the case study methodology. Four schools were studied and categorised as rural and urban settings. The main purpose of categorisation was to identify some similarities and differences in terms of how inclusion was promoted in these schools. Teachers and school administrators were chosen as the main participants. The primary source of data collection was semi-structured interviews. Interview questions were developed for both teachers and school administrators respectively.  A non-participant observation method was used as a support instrument to collect more data from selected research participants based on the preliminary interview data.  

The results suggested the existence of four broad school cultural features and practices. These included staff understanding of special and inclusive education concepts, leadership and organisation, school cultural features/practices and implications for staff, and policies.  Teachers and school administrators appeared to have limited knowledge and understanding about what constitutes special and inclusive education practices. However, the school leadership, collaboration and inspection practices minimally influenced inclusive practices. At the same time other school cultural features such as the outcomes-based education curriculum and ecological assessment seemed to have the potential to influence the outcomes of the process of inclusion.  The results suggest the value of Callan Services as a school support service agency to influence inclusive education in the Southern Highlands Province. It was noted that children with disabilities were already part of the education system. Though the teachers and school administrators claimed this to be inclusive education, according to the literature this was a manifestation of functional mainstreaming practices.

The teachers and school administrators and the Department of Education at the provincial and national levels appeared to take less responsibility in disseminating information pertaining to inclusive practices. The teachers and school administrators received limited support and information from the national and provincial Departments of Education.  Therefore, the special education policies developed at the national level had not trickled down to the school level.  This situation created a gap between inclusive education policy and practice. One of the major channels of communication and connection was through the inspectors and their inspection practices, but this appeared to have been under-utilised.

text: School cultural features and practices that influence inclusive education in Papua New Guinea: A consideration of schools in Southern Highlands Province. Inclusive education is a recent phenomenon in the education system in Papua New Guinea. It is about giving equal educational opportunities to all children, whether with disabilities or not in the regular school or classroom.  Schools are considered as social institutions that should endeavour to enhance all children's lives through appropriate teaching and learning practices.  However, the school culture, which is generally defined as 'how things are done here' is vital for the promotion of inclusive practices. The main aim of this study was to identify the school cultural features and practices that influenced or did not influence inclusive education, and the impact on inclusion.  Teachers and school administrators appeared to play a vital role in enhancing inclusive practices through their practices.

The study was based on an interpretive/naturalistic research paradigm, the qualitative research approach and the case study methodology. Four schools were studied and categorised as rural and urban settings. The main purpose of categorisation was to identify some similarities and differences in terms of how inclusion was promoted in these schools. Teachers and school administrators were chosen as the main participants. The primary source of data collection was semi-structured interviews. Interview questions were developed for both teachers and school administrators respectively.  A non-participant observation method was used as a support instrument to collect more data from selected research participants based on the preliminary interview data.  

The results suggested the existence of four broad school cultural features and practices. These included staff understanding of special and inclusive education concepts, leadership and organisation, school cultural features/practices and implications for staff, and policies.  Teachers and school administrators appeared to have limited knowledge and understanding about what constitutes special and inclusive education practices. However, the school leadership, collaboration and inspection practices minimally influenced inclusive practices. At the same time other school cultural features such as the outcomes-based education curriculum and ecological assessment seemed to have the potential to influence the outcomes of the process of inclusion.  The results suggest the value of Callan Services as a school support service agency to influence inclusive education in the Southern Highlands Province. It was noted that children with disabilities were already part of the education system. Though the teachers and school administrators claimed this to be inclusive education, according to the literature this was a manifestation of functional mainstreaming practices.

The teachers and school administrators and the Department of Education at the provincial and national levels appeared to take less responsibility in disseminating information pertaining to inclusive practices. The teachers and school administrators received limited support and information from the national and provincial Departments of Education.  Therefore, the special education policies developed at the national level had not trickled down to the school level.  This situation created a gap between inclusive education policy and practice. One of the major channels of communication and connection was through the inspectors and their inspection practices, but this appeared to have been under-utilised.

year: 2007

title: Effects of industry on Maori cultural values: The case of the Tarawera River

authors: Dodd, Materoa

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: The research is a case study of the relationship between three tribes; Te Arawa, Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau and Ngāti Awa and the Tarawera River during the second half of the 20th century when the river was polluted with effluent from pulp and paper mills. It involves the cultural story of the Tarawera River as told by the iwi (tribes) of the river informed by Maori epistemologies and what has come to be known as a ‗kaupapa Maori research' approach. Reference is made to the history, legends, customs and lifestyle that have arisen from the relationship between iwi and the river. It includes comments on the pollution of the river from members of each iwi. The world views, experiences, and perceptions reported on here have forced a fundamental change on the iwi, a change that has affected their cultural and social relationship to the river. The price of economic development on the river has been cultural and ecological genocide. 
The cultural voice echoes a familiar story in indigenous communities. In the Maori context the research provides opportunities for further inquiry into determining the socio-cultural, economic and political future of the iwi of the river.

text: Effects of industry on Maori cultural values: The case of the Tarawera River The research is a case study of the relationship between three tribes; Te Arawa, Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau and Ngāti Awa and the Tarawera River during the second half of the 20th century when the river was polluted with effluent from pulp and paper mills. It involves the cultural story of the Tarawera River as told by the iwi (tribes) of the river informed by Maori epistemologies and what has come to be known as a ‗kaupapa Maori research' approach. Reference is made to the history, legends, customs and lifestyle that have arisen from the relationship between iwi and the river. It includes comments on the pollution of the river from members of each iwi. The world views, experiences, and perceptions reported on here have forced a fundamental change on the iwi, a change that has affected their cultural and social relationship to the river. The price of economic development on the river has been cultural and ecological genocide. 
The cultural voice echoes a familiar story in indigenous communities. In the Maori context the research provides opportunities for further inquiry into determining the socio-cultural, economic and political future of the iwi of the river.

year: 2010