Furthering inclusive education in Papua New Guinea through teacher training: reflections on challenges and transformations

ABSTRACT

Papua New Guinea confronts unique and complex challenges with national reform policies promoting the increase of children with a disability enrolling in mainstream schools. Despite these policies being introduced in the last two decades, the translation to practice has been slow. In order to equip teachers with the necessary skills, knowledge and dispositions to implement inclusive education in Papua New Guinea, there is a pressing need to identify and understand the challenges teacher-educators experience. Data collected as part of an Australian-funded Fellowship, from ten Papua New Guinea education leaders, elucidate the perceived challenges associated with teacher-training for inclusive education. Content analysis of the participants’ reflections revealed insights into how and what pedagogical and curriculum transformations in teacher education training courses could improve inclusive education practices in Papua New Guinean schools. These findings enhance agency for the education leaders to promote positive change so that Papua New Guinea can further its implementation of inclusive education.

KEYWORDS:

• Special education needs
• inclusive education system
• teacher training
• Papua New Guinea

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Danielle Tracey

Danielle Tracey is an Associate Professor in the School of Education, Western Sydney University, Australia.

Katrina Barker

Katrina Barker is an Associate Professor in the School of Education, Western Sydney University, Australia.

Paul Valuka

Paul Valuka is an Inspector – Inclusive Education working in the Teacher Education Division in the National Department of Education in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Wilfred Baambu

Wilfred Baambu is a Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education, Papua New Guinea.

Ken Gene

Ken Gene is a Lecturer in Inclusive Education, Papua New Guinea.

Elice Moko

Elice Moko is a Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education, Papua New Guinea.

Siwert Robert

Siwert Robert is a Lecturer in Inclusive Education, Papua New Guinea.

Gladys Robin

Gladys Robin is a Lecturer in Inclusive Education, Papua New Guinea.

Cathy Sowi

Cathy Sowi is a Curriculum Officer for Inclusive Education working in the Teacher Education Division in the National Department of Education in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

John Wanis

John Wanis is a Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education, Papua New Guinea.

David Wine

David Wine is a Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education, Papua New Guinea.

Genevieve Nelson

Genevieve Nelson is Chief Executive Officer at Kokoda Track Foundation, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Petra Arifeae

Petra Arifeae is Programs Manager at Kokoda Track Foundation, Australia and Papua New Guinea.