A weeklong education research capacity development workshop concluded in Port Moresby from 23 to 27 October 2023, marking a significant step forward in bolstering the research capacity and efforts of Papua New Guinea’s Research and Evaluation Division of the Department of Education. The workshop brought together over 20 education researchers, senior leaders, and policy practitioners from across the different divisions of the Department of Education to share knowledge, develop skills, and establish networks for collaboration.
Organised by the Pacific Community (SPC)’s Educational Quality and Assessment Programme (EQAP), under its Pacific Education Researchers Network (PERN), the workshop focussed on capacity development in education research planning and using education research for informing evidence-based policy and practice aimed at improving education outcomes.
SPC's Education Specialist – Research, Dr Krishneel Reddy, highlighted the importance of this workshop by reflecting on the broader goals of PERN in the region: “Our efforts under the PERN initiative are focussed on decolonising education research by empowering education ministries in taking lead roles in their own education research through culturally appropriate methodologies, and most importantly, using their own voices to tell their own stories on issues that matter to them”.
Dr Reddy, who led a similar research workshop in Micronesia earlier this year, added, “Our work in education research capacity building in the region is greatly valued as we provide training that is making a practical impact in strengthening evidence-based decision-making”.
PNG Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary, Ms Martha Kull, explained that the workshop helped support critical areas of research development and provided capacity development in “something they had desired” for a long time.
She added that the workshop has empowered them to establish an education research information system, which has always been a great need for the education department.
Apart from these, Kull mentioned that the workshop inspired participants to set clear goals on “planning and implementing educational research projects and communicating the practical implication of their findings” to support evidence-based decision-making.
SPC will continue providing education, research capacity development, and training to support countries in the region.
