Teachers from Taurama Primary School outside of Port Moresby had paid a courtesy visit to the Melanesian Haus Exhibition booth for the first time on Friday 9th October 2026 in Port Moresby, a high-impact educational tour designed to bring history to life for its teachers.

Chief Secretary, Ivan Pomaleu, OBE commended the initiative, noting the importance of educators connecting with the administrative and political history of the country.

“Education is not merely about reciting facts; it is about understanding the foundation upon which our nation is built,” Mr. Pomaleu stated. “I am heartened to see Taurama Primary School prioritizing professional development that connects teachers with our national identity.

When teachers walk through these galleries and see the faces of those who have shaped our governance, they carry that inspiration back to the next generation of leaders in their classrooms.”

The visit by the Taurama Primary School teachers was part the annual International Teachers’ Day celebrations observed on the 5th of October this year.

Apart from the traditional beach outings and sporting events of previous years, the visit saw 39 of the school’s 42 teachers who had participated in an immersive journey through the nation’s political heritage.

The initiative, led by Head Teacher Marilyn Komeng was aimed at educating teachers-many of whom had visited the exhibition booth for the first time had attained first-hand information and in-depth knowledge to better equip them for the classroom.

“By interacting directly with historical artifacts, a comprehensive pre-history timeline, and the portraits of our nation’s leaders, our staff can now associate faces with names and stories with facts,” said Ms. Komeng.

The  exhibition booth contains political heritage of  Papua New Guinea showcasing diverse cultural artefacts from each province around the country, memorabilia, political story boards with brief history of the post to pre-independence era, the first Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare to the current Prime Minister Hon. Chief James Marape and the first Chief Secretary to current incumbent Chief Secretary Mr. Ivan Pomaleu, OBE and also the history of the first to the current Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Sir Bob Dadae.

The tour around the exhibition both was ported by the Events Committee, particularly officers from the Department who guided the teachers whilst, going through every gallery from the first to the end.

During the tour, teachers viewed the portraits of every Prime Minister from the first to the current, as well as the portraits of the nation’s Chief Secretaries, bridging the gap between historical record and personal connection.

Mr. Pomaleu further noted the value of the “education tour” concept as a model for other schools to follow, emphasizing that a well-informed teacher is the greatest asset to a developing nation.

Head  Teacher  Marilyn  Komeng,  expressed  her  sincere  gratitude  to  Chief  Secretary  Ivan Pomaleu for his great initiative in establishing a Special Events Committee in the Department to help coordinate and support in providing the opportunity for this enriching visit.

“This experience will allow us to impart much deeper knowledge to their students and better prepare them for future educational visits. She  said  such  collaborations  between  schools  and  government  offices  are  vital  for  the continuous professional growth of the teaching fraternity.