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The Kokoda Bursary Program | |
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 ''Yumi helpim pikinini lainum skul' The Kokoda Bursary Program is an educational initiative aimed towards PNG students who have the aptitude for a formal education but neither the money nor the means to obtain one. Papua New Guinea is our closest neighbout, former mandated territory, fellow Commonwealth member and wartime ally. During our hour of need in World War 11 they extended a hand to assist our diggers and led hundreds to safety. Now the roles are reversed and they need a hand. The Kokoda Bursary Program is an opportunity for us - yumi - to make a difference by giving hope to a student who will surely be consigned to a subsistence existence without it. It's the least we - yumi - can do. |
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'Yumi Helpim Pikinini Lainim Skul' | |
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'You and me can help PNG children to learn at school'  If ever you wanted to do something to help some of those bright-eyed young ''angels' who sang for us along the track then think 'education' - it's their only hope! The odds against these kids are overwhelming. Half the PNG population is under 19 years of age and 80 per cent earn an average of A$10 a week. Only 20 per cent of parents can afford an education for their children and this year 40 per cent of these drop out at primary school level. In Oro Province the 2001 enrolment rates for grades 1 to 6 were 72 per cent; grades 7 to 10 - 29 per cent; and grades 9 to 12 - 18 per cent.  Over the years we have tried to do our bit by sponsoring village students at Provincial Government High Schools and providing funds to assist community schools along the track. Unfortunately these initiatives require intensive supervision as village schools are closed and relocated; sponsored students are substituted; and monies are misappropriated. Notwithstanding this we will continue to provide support with your help and will do our best to 'audit' the process via our trek leaders who are constantly on the track. During our research for an educational institution with the curriculum and the governance to host a scholarship program we were introduced to the Port Moresby Grammar School. This school was initially regarded as a 'school for dropouts' but has progressed to be a leading independent school with more than 60 teachers and 1300 students. The school is run by an independent Board of Directors and is now known as the 'school of opportunity' because of its commitment to assisting bright young students who do not have the family or financial support to complete their education. We have visited the school on a number of occasions and met with Directors and teaching staff to develop a scholarship or bursary program that will allow you to sponsor a student. Bursaries will be named after individual or company sponsors who be listed on an honour board at the school and on their website. They will be named: 'The (your name) Kokoda Bursary'. Memorial bursaries will also be established for families or battalion associations to name after veterans who fought in New Guinea, eg: 'The (Veteran's name) Memorial Bursary'. The school will appoint a co-ordinator for the program and sponsors will receive reports on the progress of their students. Sponsors will receive a framed certificate with the name of their bursary as an acknowledgement of their generosity each year. Last year 3 male and 2 female Koiari students and one male Orokaiva  student had to be suspended because of a lack of funds for school fees. This year (2007) there are 15 female and 7 male Orokaiva students plus 4 female and 4 male Koiari students attending the school. In addition to this there are numerous other students from Provinces where our diggers fought who are in desperate need of financial help.Our goal is to assist them to complete their education and give them a chance, or a second chance, to play a leading role in the future of their country. Ples helpim ol, Charlie |
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Education in Papua New Guinea | |
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Education is the only chance Papua New Guineans have of breaking the shackles of international aid donors and taking ownership of their own destiny. Unfortunately the system does not have the resources to meet the most basic demands. According to PNG Department of Education supply and demand projections for 2006 there will be 1,707,677 students seeking enrolment this year but only 908,096 places available - a shortfall of 799,581 or 46.8 per cent! Of more concern for the immediate future is the situation for year 11 and 12 students. According to the Departments figures there will be 244,613 students competing for 16,060 places - a shortfall of 600 per cent! Responsibility for education PNG was transferred from National to Provincial Governments in 1978. Inefficiencies and corruption within these decentralised systems have been well documented over the years and the quality of education has diminished to the extent that Papua New Guinea's educational enrolments are now among the lowest in Asia. The rate of attrition and dropouts at primary level is exceptionally high at 40 per cent. Whilst a few government schools are doing their best to cope students seeking a quality education are advised to seek placements in independent schools run by churches or private boards. Our experience with government schools in Central and Oro Provinces over the past few years supports this advice. We were unable to develop an objective merit-based selection process for students or a system to prevent those we did select from being substituted by other 'wan-toks'. We also found it difficult to communicate with schools as lines are often down; fax machines are unserviceable and progressive school reports were almost impossible to obtain. We therefore sought an independent school with professional management, proper governance and the capacity to adopt a scholarship program for Koiari and Orokaiva students from Central and Oro Provinces. The Port Moresby Grammar School was recommended to us. |
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Port Moresby Grammar School . | |
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 Port Moresby Grammar is an independent International School for students in the Nation's capital. It offers high quality and relevant education in a caring and disciplined environment, which will prepare children for life in Port Moresby or anywhere else in the world. The school follows a variety of curricula to cater for varying needs of students. In the Junior School the curriculum is drawn from the best features of the PNG, International Educational Academy and overseas programs. It has been developed specifically to meet the needs of PNG students. In the Senior School, students follow an approved course of studies leading to the PNG School Certificate in Year 10 and the Higher School Certificate in Year 12. Successful grades in the the HSC will enable the student to apply for Tertiary Studies either in PNG or overseas. Port Moresby Grammar students are also encouraged to sit for the University of Cambridge suite or EFL Examinations and Information Technology certificates. The school has more than 60 professional teachers who have been recruited from within PNG and overseas. The teaching staff are supported by a large ancillary staff, both in and out of the classroom.  The campus is located on the old Port Moresby RSL Club site in Batavia Street, Boroko. It has a unique architectural design, built around a large courtyard and dominated by huge 'Haus Tambaran'. The Junior School is in a linked but separate building also built around a courtyard. Facilities at the school are excellent. Students have access to over 200 computers in laboratories, internet cafes, the library and classrooms. There are specialist science, technology, music and audio visual rooms. Backup power means the school remains open during the frequent cuts which plague Port Moresby. The school emphasises Information Technology, from its Prep students through to grade 12. It is the only school in Papua New Guinea authorised by the NSW Department of Education to offer Information Technology as a HSC examination subject. This is where the future leaders of Papua New Guinea will come from - and we - yumi - can help make it happen! |
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How YUMI can help | |
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We (yumi) can help at different levels. For some it might be taking out an Australian Geographic or Bulletin magazine subscription and having it delivered to the school. For others it might be participation in our 'bring a book' campaign. Others might wish to sponsor a student and have the bursary established in their own name while some might like to conduct a fundraising campaign to sponsor a memorial bursary named after a digger who fought in PNG. The spirit of the support is as important as the value of the bursary. Keep in mind that little things make a big difference in PNG. All funds donated to the Kokoda Bursary Program will be directed to Port Moresby Grammar School to support sponsored students. |
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Kokoda & Memorial Bursaries | |
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The Kokoda Bursary Program comprises: 1. Level 1 (Preparatory to Grade 6): $2100 per annum 2. Level 2 (Grade 7 to 10): $2900 per annum 3. Level 3 (Grade 11 to 12): $3250 If the bursary is in your name it will be registered as: 'The (your name) Kokoda Bursary' If the bursary is to be dedicated to a veteran it will be registered as: 'The (veteran's name) Memorial Bursary' To secure a bursary in the first instance please send your details and the level of bursary (see above) you wish to sponsor to: Charlie Lynn Adventure Kokoda Bursary Program PO Box 303 Camden NSW 2570 or email: charlie.lynn@adventurekokoda.com.au On receipt of your contact details you will be advised of the contact details of the Kokoda Bursary Liaison Officer at the Port Moresby Grammar School. On receipt of the funds for your bursary you will receive a Certificate of Appreciation from the school and your name will be placed on a Bursary Honour Board at the school. You will also receive regular reports on the progress of your student at the school. |
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'Bring a Book' | |
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During a visit to Port Moresby Grammar School last week we inspected their library. Whilst it is well managed and maintained it is seriously lacking in modern reference books. The cost of such books and their transport to Papua New Guinea can be prohibitive. We have therefore decided to initiate a 'Bring a Book' campaign for our trekkers this year. The school has agreed to provide us with a list of books appropriate to their needs and we will make it available to trekkers. Last year more than 3,700 people trekked across the track. If we can encourage them to bring a book with them then we should be able to assist Port Moresby Grammar School as well as the main Provincial High Schools of Sogeri, Iaowari and Popondetta in upgrading this most important resource for teachers and students. |
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'Purchase a Periodical' | |
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Magazines and periodicals, something we take for granted to keep abreast of current affairs, are also insufficient to meet the needs of 60 teachers and 1300 students. We therefore plan to introduce a 'Purchase a Periodical' plan for educational magazines such as Time, the Bulletin, Australian Geographic, National Geographic, etc. The school is in the process of developing a list of suitable periodicals for the various grades. This initiative is suitable for trekkers who may not be able to afford to sponsor a bursary but who would still like to make a contribution. Those who wish to participate in the program will be asked to subscribe to a magazine and have it delivered to Port Moresby. Details will be provided later when we receive the list from the school. Those who 'Purchase a Periodical' will receive an official 'Certificate of Appreciation' from Port Moresby Grammar School and will be recorded in a leather bound register to be held within the library. |
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Kokoda Reunion Dinner | |
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Our 2007 Kokoda Reunion Dinner will be held in Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney on Friday, 24 August 2007 (not Friday the 25th as advised in our previous niusleta - mi buggerup taim - mi tumas sori!). Please put the corrected date in your diaries. The 65th anniversary service of the battle of Isurava (26 - 30 August 1942) will be held at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway on Sunday, 26th. We could organise a lunchtime harbour cruise on Saturday if there was enough interest. I will advise details of the dinner, the Memorial Service at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway (most likely between 10.00 am and 12 noon) and details of the harbour cruise in our next niusleta. |
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Adventure Kokoda Pty Limited | |
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 Adventure Kokoda Pty Limited PO Box 303 Camden NSW 2570 Australia Ph: +61 2 4655 1389 Fx: +61 2 4655 9433 charlie.lynn@adventurekokoda.com.au www.adventurekokoda.com.au |
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