Buk bilong Pikinini (BbPhas today concluded its annual Teacher Training refresher program for all the organisations’ Teacher-Librarians.
The training also included 10 Teachers from ExxonMobil plant site supported schools.
The training provided up-skilling and training in BbP’s Early Childhood Education program and has also included the distribution of tablets for each of BbP’s Library Learning Centres for the delivery of BbP’s digital learning program.
BbP’s teachers received digital training in November last year and are now getting ready to fully implement a digital learning program for the children in the classrooms.
The tablets feature BbP’s ‘learning app’, which includes curriculum-based learning games, audio books and stories developed to increase word recognition, spelling and reading.
In addition to digital audio versions of BbP’s published books the app will also include PNG cultural stories collected across the country.
The digital cultural stories featured will cover traditional practices and customs under the themes of the ocean, village-life, forest and animals.
Thanks to the app the children will be able to read and learn about cultural practices which are different to their own and be able to increase their cultural knowledge through stories from across the country.
Dorcas Lance, BbP Head Teacher-Librarian at Lae Showgrounds said: “We have learnt so much at this training. Introducing digital learning to children is still a very new thing in Papua New Guinea and we are very excited about the opportunity as we know it will greatly motivate the children and thereby lead to better literacy levels.”
Judith Tom, BbP Head Teacher-librarian at Lae Unitech said: “After we received the new books in the “When I grow up I want to be …” series featuring PNG children in professional roles the children were so motivated to read the books because the children look just like themselves.
We think the app – which also includes BbP’s audio books will have the same effect and really assist them with quickly mastering the different steps of becoming literate.
Shameka Nelson – ExxonMobilPNG, Operations Manager gave the closing remarks and assisted with the presentation of certificates to all the participating teachers.
Ms Nelson said: “I would like to thank Buk bilong Pikinini for 10 years of partnership and also thank the 47 teachers for their participation.
I am very impressed with the training program and so pleased to see the inclusive aspect of the training with sign language being taught to the teachers.
EMPNG is grateful for our partnership with BbP to support education across the country. Reading is fundamental and plays an important role in society and will determine the children’s future.
We are also proud to have supported BbP with the creation of the country’s first children’s learning app which will support BbP’s digital learning program and are certain that this will open a world of knowledge for the children.”
The Teacher Training has been made possible thanks to sponsorship from ExxonMobil PNG and tickets from PNG Air.
The training included up-skilling in BbP’s Early Childhood Education program with topics such as: class management and behavior strategies, inclusive education and sign language, digital learning, early childhood development, assessment, child protection, library management, phonics, first aid as well as presentations from partners.
Since 2011, EMPNG has generously sponsored Buk bilong Pikinini and provided support to Library Learning Centres, donated over 15,000 books, provided support for BbP’s teacher training, provided material support (teaching resources and videos) for the numeracy program and supported development of the first early learning childhood PNG app.
EMPNG is committed to helping the organization grow and continue to build strong foundations for learning.
BbP Executive Officer, Leanne Resson said: “We are so grateful to have been able to carry out this quality teacher up-skilling and training and also provide new quality teaching resources to our Library Learning Centres thanks to the on-going support of EMPNG.
We are extremely proud to be able to continue to provide an Early Childhood Education program of the highest standard to children across the country.”