PNG to host first Pacific Teacher Education Conference in Goroka

Papua New Guinea will host the inaugural Pacific Teacher Education Conference from July 5–7 in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province.

The event is a joint initiative of the University of Goroka [UOG], Beijing Normal University in China, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO].

The conference aims to address critical challenges affecting teachers in the Pacific region, including the quality of teacher education, recruitment and retention, professional development, and overall education outcomes.

Bringing together Deans of Education, teacher training institutions, policy makers, education administrators, researchers, and other key stakeholders, the conference will serve as a platform to explore innovative solutions to improve teacher quality, gender equality, working conditions, capacity building, and digital competencies for educators.

Executive Director of the Somare Research Institute at UOG, Dr Jane Awi, said the conference will focus on real and persistent challenges faced by teachers, particularly those serving in rural and remote areas. The goal, she emphasized, is to improve teacher training across the Pacific.

Two major outcomes expected from the event include the adoption of a Pacific Declaration on Teacher Education and the establishment of a Pacific Network of Deans of Education. This network will foster collaboration, share ideas, and strengthen partnerships among universities in the region.

The conference is also a key milestone in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] signed between UOG and Beijing Normal University in October 2023 in Beijing, witnessed by Prime Minister James Marape.