ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor Alan. J. Bishop for his untiring guidance and support throughout the study. I am also thankful to Dr. Barbara Clarke for her constructive and helpful comments, to Dr. Paul Gardner for his advice on the statistical aspects of this thesis and to Ms. Rosemary Viete for proof reading this thesis. I am also grateful to the Australian government for making it possible for me to study at Monash University by providing the scholarship through AUSAID. I would also like to thank the University of Papua New Guinea for granting me study leave for the duration of this program

I am indebted to the 145 teachers in Papua New Guinea who took the time to fill in the questionnaire and to those that I interviewed. My special thanks to the five teachers who graciously allowed me to observe them teaching. Also to those teachers who participated in the pilot study, I say thanks. I wish to thank those others who contributed in one way or another and helped me in my quest for knowledge.

I wish to thank the staff and the research students at the Faculty of Education at Monash for providing the necessary support to fulfil the requirements of this thesis. I dedicate the thesis to my wife and three daughters who were always there for me when I needed them, to my sister, Betty, who was tragically lost at sea, to my parents, other sisters and brother for encouraging me to persevere and also to enjoy the work.