Since retirement as the Archbishop of Adelaide, Bishop Jeffrey Driver, has brought his connections, plus experience and expertise as past Principal of an Australian theological college to ACPNG. There, as Newton College Principal, he is helping the college meet the PNG government’s demanding new accreditation and registration requirements for the nation’s tertiary education institutions. However, as described in his most recent report, his wider vision is to create a central professional training ‘power-house’ for ACPNG and the Northern Province on the college’s 265-acre campus. Bishop Jeffrey writes:
“The year 2023 will have a special place in the history of Newton Theological College. As of December 31 2023, the college will be taken up into a larger entity called “The Modawa Institute of Higher Education”. It will bring together Newton College with the St Margaret’s School of Nursing and a new school,”The David Hand School of Teaching”. The Provincial Council of the Anglican Church of PNG has been considering this important initiative over the past two to three years and in November 2023 passed the enabling Canon. The Northern (Oro) Province Provincial Government has come behind the proposal with strong support and the Kokoda Trust Foundation has emerged as a major partner.
All this will call for renewed endeavours at several levels. The staff and systems of the college will need to be expanded. The IT arrangements will need further development and there will need to be several new buildings. Included among the new buildings will be dormitory facilities for female students as well as additional lecture spaces.
This development means that the Newton College graduation in November was the last under that banner. The next cohort of graduates will be from the Modawa Institute. The November graduation included a group of students who had completed the Diploma in Ministry, as well as spouses who had completed their own programme. In characteristic PNG fashion, it was a colourful and festive occasion. The liturgy itself had a powerfully Melanesian character, with the three languages of English, Tok Pisin and Motu used in both spoken word and song. A number of traditional dance groups participated in custom dress, with parts of the liturgy expressed in dance and movement. The graduation service itself was followed by speeches, presentations, more dancing and an abundance of food.
I am very grateful to Marshall Brougham Builders Adelaide and Walter Brooke Architects for assisting us with a draft masterplan for the college site. In addition to renovations and extension to existing buildings, we will need several more academic and residential buildings, as we transition to a multi-disciplinary institute and look towards the student body being made up of an equal number of male and female students. While students from nearby will be able to be bussed to the college, those from the more remote areas in the higher country or along the coast will need residential facilities. Already we have renovated the single male accommodation, but we will need a residential dormitory for some 50-60 female students. There will be a need for further staff housing, as well.
Mid-year, we lodged the necessary documentation with the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) to begin the processes for institutional registration and accreditation. The requirements involve everything from the physical buildings, IT accessibility, library, though to academic administration and curriculum. The staff at DHERST have been very encouraging, including the head of DHERST, Fr Jan Czuba. But comments from leaders of other institutions suggest we still have a demanding process to pursue through to an on-site audit, probably around June this year.
With this, there is need to significantly increase the range of materials and subjects in the Newton College Library. More needs to be put in place in regard to e-journal access and books online but, thanks to help from Br Christopher John SSF, we have already taken some important steps forward.
As we look to the future, the challenge will be to upgrade all lecturing staff to at least Masters’ Degree level. This will be needed as we move towards teaching at degree level. This year, Deputy Principal, Fr Giles Motisi is pursuing Masters Degree studies at Francis College, Brisbane, whilst living as part of the Franciscan Community there. Fr Giles has been an important part of the progress we have made at Newton College over the past six to seven years, but now it is his turn to become a student again!
Theological education should never simply be an academic abstraction, and in places like PNG there must be a strong link between the disciplines of theology and the needs of community development. This means that Newton College has been consistently involved with a range of practical programmes in areas like health and adult literacy. Scabies is a skin disease caused by a mite. It spreads though social contact and is prevalent among children. It covers children with irritating pustules from toes to shoulders and impedes normal development and education. Government clinics are not being provided with the best drugs to treat the disease, so Bishop Jeffrey has invited Dr Warren Weightman, from Adelaide, to head up a scabies treatment project in local villages this year, with both medication and education.
Also in 2024, a number of our current third-year students move into a fourth year as they seek to complete an Advanced Diploma in Theology. This is a new course offering for Newton College and represents our desire to continue to lift standards and to provide opportunities for those students who show real academic ability. At the same time, we have a number of students studying at Cert 4 level. This cohort includes a number of people who do not see their ministry focused around ordination, but who may be wishing to serve God as lay leaders in church agencies, schools or secular life. These are exciting new developments for the college and have brought a new burst of energy into the college community.
If you would like to help Newton College and invest in the development of the Modawa Institute at this crucial time, please send your donation to PNGCP Treasurer, Jan Nicholson, 14 Walcot Gardens, 136 Kennington Road, London SE11 6RB
Why The Modawa Institute?
The Modawa, or New Guinea Rosewood, has become a symbol for the Anglican Church in PNG. The early missionaries cut down some bush timber to build a chapel in Dogura. One of the posts grew and became a symbol of the church. It is still there near the cathedral at Dogura, a symbol of resilience, growth and inclusion, providing shelter and shade for many. “Strongly grows the Modawa Tree”.
