West Papuan teachers to train at University
The University of the Sunshine Coast will tomorrow (Wednesday 16 April) sign an agreement that will lead to senior teachers from the Indonesian province of West Papua undertaking professional development on the Sunshine Coast.
This teacher training program will initially involve 15 West Papuan teachers, including some school principals, visiting the Coast for seven weeks from early May to gain an understanding of how maths and science are taught here.
The agreement will be signed by USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas AM and Eka Simanjuntak. Mr Simanjuntak is the director of Willi Toisuta Associates, the official representatives of the West Papuan Education Office.
Also attending will be Dr Willi Toisuta and James Modouw, Head of the Education Office of the West Papua Provincial Government.
USC program leader Dr Bill Allen said some of the University’s top science lecturers, including Dr David McKay, Dr Ann Parkinson and Scott Roche, would be involved in this training program.
He said the visiting West Papuan teachers also would have the opportunity to observe maths and science classes at local high schools.
Dr Allen said the agreement would create opportunities for joint research projects and lead to shared arrangements between USC and the Indonesian Government, as well as between Sunshine Coast and West Papuan schools.
— Terry Walsh