Rockhampton Girls Grammar is only 1 of 12 schools in Australia to be selected to participate in the PNGAus Partnership program being launched mid-2019. The successful submission was confirmed Monday evening and Acting Principal, Michelle Gouge, couldn’t be more delighted.
"This initiative is a terrific opportunity for Rockhampton Girls Grammar to strengthen priority areas in education such as STEAM, the Collins Writing and Read2 Learn literacy programs delivered here at RGGS, youth agency and leadership, and girls’ education and inclusivity alongside an international partnership," Mrs Gouge said.
"Our ties are already strong with our PNG families and this project will no doubt strengthen our ties."
"The initiative will connect Papua New Guinean and Australian students, teachers and school leaders to better prepare our future generations to thrive in a technology-driven and globally interconnected 21st century," she said.
The three key objectives of the PNGAus Partnership Secondary Schools initiative are to:
• Improve secondary school education capabilities in targeted areas
• Build student empowerment through the development of leadership skills and an expanded world view
• Strengthen the public diplomacy between our two countries.
The selection panel, based in the University of Melbourne, identified that amongst a strong field of secondary school applications, Rockhampton Girls Grammar stood apart from the rest because of the school’s keen motivation to participate in the initiative, its strengths in STEAM, student agency and leadership and the willingness to host a Papua New Guinean school in the community.
Consideration needs to now be given to who will form the team for this exciting project. The program offers an opportunity for 2 teachers and 2 students (targeted year level) to join alongside a member of the leadership team and participate in the 2 year program. This will involve two trips to PNG during a school holiday period in 2019 and 2020.
‘The leadership team will be seeking expression of interest from both teachers and students once we know the full complexities of the program. In the meantime, it is time to celebrate this achievement for Rockhampton Girls Grammar as strengthening relationships and improving educational practice on an international scale is exciting and innovative.’ The team will be heading to PNG in September 2019.
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