PNG lacking published research

Caption: Dr Arnold Kukari

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, December 21, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THAT lack of published research writing by Papua New Guineans was pointed out by the editor for the revitalized Papua New Guinea Journal of Education and fellow researcher at the National Research Institute, Dr Arnold Kukari, that was re-launched this week.

He highlighted the fact that not many Papua New Guineans liked to write for whatever reason.

“Not many of us like to publish- some of us get promoted in especially universities because we are either administrators, we are given Professorships, or because we are good classroom teachers- not because we are good scholars that we publish papers,” Dr Kukari said.

“It is quiet difficult for many of us to publish, but there are many who are good at publishing.”

He said that the government needs everyone to contribute and create knowledge is significant.

“If you are going to build a knowledge based society, or to become a middle income country, or to be ranked in the 50th percentile in the Human Development Index then definitely we have to create a lot of knowledge and channel that knowledge for development and providing policy interventions.”

“The journal is a medium also for documenting best practice, normally we don’t do that but we would like to document what we do in Papua New Guinea.”

Kukari added that many things that are done in the country are good, but many do not realize.

“There are other countries in the world that take on board what we do,”Dr Kukari said.

“Last week I was in Nepal and I learnt that the Nepalese are following what we do in Papua New Guinea in terms of vernacular education with 187 languages, which we have more than that.”

“So you can imagine the challenges we have, and if you come with good strategies to address those challenges then many other nations of the world are like to follow suit and Nepal I learnt is doing that.”