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National Book Week in Gulf Province 2018

Illustration on Classroom Wall at Lese Oalai Primary School

Today is the closing day for the celebration of the National Book Week 2018 throughout Papua New Guinea.

The National Book Week was launched on Monday 06th August 2018 in Kerema, the capital of the Gulf Province. 

The Minister of Education, Hon. Nick Kuman, MP officially launched the event in Kerema Town. In attendance was the Vice Minister of Education, Hon. Chris Nangoi.

Minister Kuman acknowledged the Gulf Province for hosting the official launch and closing of the National Book Week in 2018. He acknowledged the participation and celebration of the book week among schools with the support of their teachers and parents.

He also acknowledged the importance of promoting local writers in PNG. More needs to be done to promote PNG writing.  So what must be done to spur and grow a local writing development.

Governor Chris Haiveta and Gulf Regional MP was on hand to welcome his brother Ministers and Members of the Parliament.

The academic performance of Gulf children was a concern to the Governor. Grade 12 Leavers missed out on selection into universities over the years. Last year no one was selected to attend the University of Papua New Guinea.

Through the provision of library services Governor Haiveta hopes the level of academic performance in the province will improve.

Among other things he challenged every school to set aside a room for the roll out of the school libraries program in the province.

To witness the event the National Libraries and Archives Board (NLAB) was present during the official opening.  
 NLAB Members (Dr. Goru Hane-Nou, Robin Spa, Tukul Kaipu and I with Principal and Teachers of Kerema Coronation High School.

Members of the NLAB include: Priscilla Kare, Tukul Kaiku, Samson Wangihomie, Paul Jagipa, Edward Apa, Keith Jiram, Dr. Goru Hane-Nou, and myself serving as Deputy Chairman of the Board.

The Director General of the National Libraries and Archives spoke about the importance of the books in the lives of the young people. He also announced the signing of an MOA between the Gulf Provincial Government and the National Libraries and Archives for the establishment of a Provincial Libraries and a roll out program for the school libraries in the Gulf province.

I was honored and privileged to speak during the opening and the official launch of the National Book Week in the Gulf Province. It was a historical moment for me because I spoke as a Deputy Chair of the NLAB as part of the officials at the launch.

Most years I spoke in the opening or closing of the National Book Week in schools within the National Capital District. 
In the official opening I wore the hat of a Deputy Chairman of the NLAB introducing the Board, and speaking about the 10 year Development Plan, which is being rolled out now. The setting up of a provincial library in the Gulf Province was part of the Plan and that we will work to see it developed fully. We hope other Governors will follow the success of the Gulf Province in entering into an MOU with the National Libraries and Archives Services.

I also made the undertaking that the NLAB will work with the Minister in implementing the education reform and curriculum changes.

The Education Advisor for Gulf Province, Mr. Gabriel Opa thanked all the teachers, schools, and parents for their participation at the event. He was happy to see the overwhelming participation of the schools. He challenged every child to read and succeed. He reiterated the points we made that books are important to the growth and development of a child. Reading books will improve written expressions. Modern technologies and gadgets have a negative impact on the learning of a child.

On Tuesday the media and some of the Board Members returned to Port Moresby. I stayed back with Board Members: Kaiku, Hane-Nou, and Opa. We joined the National Book Week Organizing Committee Members, Mr. Chris Meti and others for the National Book Week celebration at Lese Oalai Primary School.

Students at Lese Oalai Primary School
Lese Oalai is the Governor’s Village and also his primary school. On Monday the Governor and the Education Minister and Vice Minister launched the book week there, enroute to Kerema town.

Impressive celebrations among the school children at Lese Oalai with 14 schools participating activities such as the marching competition, quizzes, and exhibition of the written expressions and book based activities.  We had time only to see the marches.

Mr. Gabriel Opa, Advisor Education was there to officially close the celebration. His speech was straight on to the failure of teachers in their commitment to their teaching profession, challenging them to improve the standard of education for the children of Gulf Province, and if need be they be reported for failing to attend to their duties. It was a public ridicule of poor performance of teachers. He challenged the young children to read books and gain knowledge that will help them to get into universities. 

I was impressed with Mr. Opa’s speech. He reiterated some of the points I made in my official remarks to the teachers, students, and parents at the Lese Oalai Primary School. Mr. Opa was spot on with his speech. He did not have to mince words to stress the importance of high academic performance for children in the Gulf Province.

I enjoyed the day in Lese Oalai, but had to leave before the Quiz began.

On Wednesday I was invited to speak to the students of Kerema Coronation High School. Some of the teachers invited me to speak to their students before I return to Port Moresby. I obliged because I have two of my former students teaching in this school.
Students at Kerema Coronation High School Assembly

It was a blast. I asked students if they have read The Crocodile by Vincent Serei Eri and Ten Thousand Years in a Lifetime by Albert Maori Kiki. It turned not many students read these classics of PNG literature because their school has none of these books. I challenged them to read these books by a Moveave man and an Orokolo man, both distinguished in their careers and served as role models for other Papua New Guineans, including myself.

I recommend, WE:


  • Develop a reading culture at an early age, especially among school age children;
  • Insist that High School students must read three books a month;
  • Public libraries a must be built in all provinces;
  • Fill libraries with books and other reading, writing, and study materials;
  • Develop a Talent League of writers among our school children at all levels of education;
  • Publish and distribute more PNG writing;
  • Start a Children’s Book publishing program;
  • Convert legends into children’s illustrated books, and
  • do a thousand things to promote books in our society.
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