A Challenge in Comparative Education: Problematizing Agricultural and Natural Resources Management Education for Post Conflict Bougainville

An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people missed out on secondary education in Bougainville due to interruption of a decade of armed conflict between 1989 and 1999. Some students never started and others were unable to complete their studies. Most of these people are now adults and a good proportion are involved in agricultural activities. In interviews carried out to find out higher education needs in post conflict Bougainville, agricultural education and natural resources management featured highly. The paper explores some of the challenges of incorporating post-foundational ideas and designing participatory processes to engage prospective students in negotiating content and learning outcomes for a diploma course that will serve two purposes. It will prepare, inform and empower students who wish to continuing working in the agricultural and natural resources sectors and it will also provide a bridge for those wanting to proceed further through University. The course could possibly run in mixed mode, with components of distance education and (lahara) summer schools run through the Bougainville Open Campus. We anticipate that such a course could be designed in partnership with the Open College of the University of Papua New Guinea and could also include input from Vudal University in East New Britain through which agriculture programs are currently offered. We consider problems of integrating ideas about globalisation, information technology, global communication, science, sustainable development, appropriate technology and business into a course focusing on agriculture and natural systems. Can we avoid transplanting too many ideas from east or west? Moreover, we recognise having to cater for the psychosocial needs of students many of whom were traumatised during the conflict or were active combatants themselves. This calls for peace education, conflict resolution skills and trauma counselling for both facilitators and students.