English, the vernacular is used for elementary education, and the vernacular is reportedly used along with Dobu during church services. The massive language change that Lithgow 1992 observed in the
Galeya dialect in its borrowing of Dobu vocabulary does not seem to be continuing.
4 Education
In addition to gathering information regarding dialect boundaries and language vitality, the survey team gathered information about education, to determine the extent that the Galeya people would likely be
able to participate in the development of their language. Information in this section was collected in group interviews with village residents and in interviews with individual school teachers and
administrators.
4.1 Adult education levels
Most adults between the ages of fifteen and thirty in the survey area have completed grade six. Some people in this age group left school before completing grade six, but it was virtually impossible to find
men and women in this age category who had received no education at all. In most larger
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villages visited, there were at least one or two people who had gone beyond grade six to complete grades eight
or ten, but these people were clearly the exception. The level of education of those living by the coast was higher than that of those living inland in the mountains, but there appeared to be no sharp contrast
between the levels of education of men and women in this age group.
Most of the adults between the ages of thirty and forty-five have completed grade six. However, fewer people in this middle group have completed grade six than in the younger age group, and many
more people in the middle group have not received any schooling at all. Once again, in larger villages it was possible to find one or two adults of this age who have completed grades eight or ten.
In general, the older adults those over forty-five are less educated than people forty-five years old and under. There are scattered cases of both older men and women who have completed grade six, but
the vast majority either left school before completing grade six or, most commonly, never attended school. Some older people attended Dobu schools for a few years.
4.2 Literacy levels
People who have attended school can read in English and may also be able to read in Dobu.
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Adults over forty-five years old are more likely to be able to read Dobu than English, but many cannot read at
all. With the introduction of vernacular elementary schools, the young children are now learning to read in the local dialect.
There are currently no adult literacy classes in the area. Some classes were run several years ago by the elementary teacher in Gameta ward, and most of the students were young adults, but the classes
were stopped because the elementary teacher had too much other work to do.
4.3 Current educational opportunities and trends
There are two primary schools in the area, Basima Primary School in Lau’oya ward and Momo’awa Primary School located at Taigwana’oya. Basima Primary School was founded by the Catholic mission in
1962 as a school designed to give religious instruction, while also offering an elementary education. In the 1980s it became a primary school and was formally recognized by the Department of Education. It
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More than four houses.
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The headmaster at Basima said, however, that people who have completed grade six may still have problems with reading and writing.
currently serves Lau’oya, Duduna, Gameta, and Ulua wards, offering grades three through eight, although grades seven and eight have only recently become available. There are currently 189 registered
students. See table 35 in Appendix E for attendance figures by grade and ward. Momo’awa Primary School serves Sebutuya and Momo’awa wards, and offers grades three through
eight. It was founded in 1970 by the Catholic mission from Budoya, and at that time it was located in the mountains of Momo’awa. In 1972 it moved farther down towards Sebutuya, to its current location at
Taigwana’oya. There are 119 registered students, and the headteacher estimated that this figure represents about half the children in the area who are eligible to attend. See table 36 in Appendix E for
attendance figures by grade and ward.
Between 1995 and 2002, eight new vernacular elementary schools opened in the survey area, as shown in table 28. Blank cells indicate that information was not available.
Table 28. Elementary schools in the Galeya area
School Name Location
Opened Number of
students
EP E1 E2 Residence of
students Basima Elementary
Lau’oya, Bederi 1998
58 21 24 14 Lau’oya ward
Duduna Elementary Budebude
1997 47
Duduna ward Gameta Elementary
Caanan 1995
25 10 8
7 Gameta ward
Momo’awa Elementary
Momo’awa Mission
2000 35
12 10 13 Momo’awa ward O’oya Elementary
O’oya 2002
35 Sebutuya ward
Sebutuya Elementary Bederi 2000
18 Sebutuya ward
Taigwana’oya Elementary
Taigwana’oya 2000
28 13 8
9 Sebutuya ward
Dobu 1
Ulua Elementary Yoridan
1995 36
5 17 14
Ulua ward. Amphlett islands
1 Bosilewa 1
Elementary school teachers in Momo’awa, Duduna, and Sebutuya commented that only half of the children of school age actually attend elementary school. However, the elementary teacher for O’oya
reported that all school age children in the area near O’oya attend school. The elementary teachers in Gameta reported that since it is a two and a half hour walk to Basima Primary School, many children
from the Gameta area do not go. Other reasons given for not attending school were school fees, the obligation to care for siblings, lack of adequate clothing, and the difficulty of getting to school during
rainy season, when rivers in the area flood.
4.4 Higher education and employment opportunities
