A LOVELY LITTLE COLLEGE

I wish to express praise at the friendly atmosphere that I have found at Juha College in Port Moresby. There are almost 100 students with an about equal number of boys and girls.

Over many years, I have worked in other high schools in Papua New Guinea and been saddened by the divisions between boys and girls. At all times they were separate from each other. The girls were often afraid of the boys. Please click:


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The boys and girls took different seats in the mess and the class room. They never talked to one another in the school ground. On Sunday nights, they would sit in separate groups to watch movies.

They would certainly sit separately in any church service. But then that has always been the practice in Catholic mass. Families do not sit in families in church. Men and boys sit on one side with women and girls on the other.

But at Juha College, there is a more friendly interaction between boys and girls. They sit mixed in class with a few groups of boys and girls here and there. They help one another with school work.

In the school grounds, they talk in groups. I have occasionally said to the girls that they should marry one of the boys in their school when the time comes.

The boys and girls seem to be a large group of sweeties. I can not yet identify one boy who will be violent to his family. Perhaps times will change. But the traces of gentleness are there now.

Why is this so? Is this happening in other schools? We hear nothing but negative news from schools that are troubled by fights and cult activities.

Is it the Personal Development program? They have been involved with family and personal values since grade 6. They learn about respect and non-violence. They have a verbal and friendly social setting. Is it their home environment?

I hope that the Personal Development program is affecting this school and every other school in the nation. If so, there is great hope for the future when these children become the parents of families.

The nation does not need foreign advisors. Just leave it to the teachers. We are assessible and accountable for what we teach.