Bougainville welcomes National Education Leaders for 35th SEOC
National Department of Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra and more than 100 senior education executives and officers received a warm traditional Bougainville welcome upon their arrival at Buka Airport yesterday ahead of the 35th National Senior Education Officers' Conference (SEOC).
The delegation was welcomed by Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Minister for Education and Member for Ramu, Hon. Thomas Pata'aku, ABG Department of Education Secretary Dorothy Kenneth, departmental heads, senior officers and education executives.
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the ABG President H.E Ishmael Toroama, Vice President Hon. Ezekiel Masatt, the Bougainville Executive Council and the people of Bougainville, Minister Pata'aku expressed his appreciation for the visit.
"It is with great honour to warmly welcome the National Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra and his team and senior executive officials to Bougainville," he said.
The visiting delegation was accorded a traditional welcome ceremony, including the Tsutsu (washing of feet) by the Ieta people and the Duta ceremony, where tama was applied to the face in accordance with Kieta custom.
Responding on behalf of the national delegation, Dr Kombra thanked the ABG Department of Education for hosting this year's conference and conveyed the appreciation of the National Minister for Education and the Department of Education.
He said the national delegation was pleased to attend the conference in Bougainville and acknowledged the support of the New Guinea Islands education leaders in selecting Bougainville as this year's host.
"I acknowledge the unwavering persistence, encouragement and support and the work of ABG Secretary Dorothy Kenneth to bring the team to attend," he added.
Dr Kombra said the visit to Bougainville was significant as Papua New Guinea marks 50 years of Independence and prepares for the next 50 years of nation-building.
"And it is timely that we come to Bougainville to remind everyone that 'education is number one', without education no country can progress,” he said.
"Education is the first and foremost agenda for any development that will take place in any country. If any country is to develop and become economically independent or someone in the future as a family as a community as a country, our investment to education is the most critical and most important investment that we can all make.”
Dr Kombra said the conference was also an opportunity to reflect on the country's achievements over the past five decades while planning the future direction of education.
"Secondly, we here to see where we will go in the next 50years, looking back in the last 50years, and into future where does education take us," he added.
Minister Pata'aku said the ABG Department of Education was honoured to host the 35th SEOC and welcomed the opportunity for national education leaders to gather in Bougainville.
"I am happy to note that through this SEOC new policies and pathway of shortfall within the education system, is addressed and necessary mechanisms are put in place to groom a better education system," he added.
He said the conference would contribute to strengthening Papua New Guinea's education system and improving outcomes for future generations.
The week-long conference has brought together senior education officials from across Papua New Guinea, including representatives from the National Department of Education, Teaching Service Commission, National Archives, development partners, churches, non-government organisations and other education stakeholders.
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