By STEPHANIE BAWO

DOCTOR Musawe Sinebare has been appointed the new secretary for the Department of Education, The National reports.
Sinebare is the former deputy director of research at the National Research Institute. He replaces Dr Joseph Pagelio.
In a hand-over ceremony at the National Library in  Waigani, Sinebare said there was a need for smart and intelligent strategies to tackle the immediate challenges faced by the department.
This includes the implementing of the government’s programmes and policies such as the phasing out of the outcome-based education, fair and equal distribution of the K70 million for the rehabilitation of the education sector infrastructure programme,  the K40 million for the improvement  of the four national High school into Schools of Excellence and teacher issues.
He said for this to happen, there must be a change of mindset and attitude towards conducting business in the department.
He also highlighted the need for information and communication technology in the department so that proper management records are kept.
 Pagelio said Sinebare was not new to the ministry and had lots of experience with a background in the education sector.
He said Papua New Guinea had seen much improvement over the last 20 years and urged all staff and stakeholders to support Sinebare in implementing the government’s education plans and policies through the department.
Meanwhile, donor agencies had given their continued support to the department in the fight against HIV/AIDS.