Get rid of OBE before we regress

Get rid of OBE before we regress
http://www.thenational.com.pg/102008/letter1.php

Outcome-based education (OBE) failed in Australia despite the country having all the necessary resources and expertise.
It was evident time and again that Australia was aware that we do not have the ability, expertise and resources to sustain such programmes.
Yet, it had continued to dictate funding programmes here. Some of these programmes included the hospital boards systems, education top-up, elementary schools and the controversial OBE.
The final outcome would be the inability on the State to sustain such programmes because of the prevailing level of poverty.
It would add more stress and burden to our recurrent expenditure budgets, weakens the institutional systems that have shown to work and, in the final analysis, downplay the quality of service provided by State institutions.

OBE has failed to bring the desired level of impacts, particularly in the developing countries and some developed countries where OBE was trialed.
The applicability of OBE only exists somewhat in theory and PNG was nowhere near the level of resources the controversial programme needs for it to be a success.
The Education secretary lacks the necessary technocratic and intellectual application of diversified cognitive functions on OBE.
He should not even bother to negotiate with the Australian government and bureaucrats who have "ulterior motives".
The Education secretary may be one of the best thinkers but not necessarily best doers.
The OBE is a recipe for disaster and Papua New Guinea's top brains must unite against this "Australian invasion".
PNG best thinkers must decide through a consultative process for OBE's exit in the PNG education system.
We need technocrats and thinkers to move the country forward.
We need the finest engineers, scientists, medical scientists, architects, doctors, etc.
This is where science, mathematics and English become very handy. History speaks loud and clear.
Thanks mainly to science, technology and medicine, the human race has reached where it is today.
However, OBE will put us on the back pedal instead of going forward.
OBE will weaken what we have built so far in PNG and human development will stagnate.
Let's not even talk about OBE. It should be thrown out of the window.
OBE does not have a place in our education system.
The National Government, politicians, bureaucrats, educationists, parents, students and our best brains must get rid of this Australian nonsense.

Dr Samuel Maima
Via email