To what extent is there improved technical ability among Village Court Officials? This section provides a summary of findings from the ARB study and the Gulf Province study. Information to assess the effectiveness (Learning) of the VCO training course was not collected from other priority provinces. 3.1 Change in knowledge or capability After the five-day training course, participants in both the ARB and Gulf Province reported a change in their knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities, improved understanding of the VC process and improved understanding of the Village Courts Act. Approximately six months after the training, the study revealed that significant changes were implemented by the Village Courts following the training experience.The following changes were implemented in both Gulf Province and the ARB: Resolving conflict through mediation first. If mediation failed then a full court sitting was held for conflicting parties. Following correct VC sitting process, e.g. almost all VCOs in attendance including the Peace Officers, more than one magistrate presiding the full court hearing, Peace Officer in between parties during the court hearing. Changes to decision-making processes such as collective decision-making and hearing views of all parties including witnesses. Punctuality and improved attendance of VCOs. In the ARB other changes implemented include: Magistrates withdrawing if parties concerned are relatives, trying to correctly fill-in the Case Register and VC forms, and raising the flags of PNG and the ARB during court sittings. In Gulf Province, one other change they tried was to have a briefing or meeting of VCOs before they conducted their business (mediation or full court sitting). During the briefing, roles were allocated and cases were discussed by VCOs. Law and justice stakeholders in both the ARB and Gulf Province believed that the following positive changes they observed were due to the VCO training program: Less complaints from the community; Improvement in the quality of completed VC forms; Quarterly reports provided by Village Courts to PVCO or VC Program Manager; and Correct VC process from mediations to full court sittings. Stakeholders in Buka commented that they observed some improvements in Village Courts’ decisions based on the decreasing number of appeals or complaints from the people. Similarly, stakeholders from Kerema observed less complaints from the community, an indication of improved technical abilities of VCOs and community acceptance of Village Courts’ decisions.
To what extent is there improved technical ability among Village Court Officials? This section provides a summary of findings from the ARB study and the Gulf Province study. Information to assess the effectiveness (Learning) of the VCO training course was not collected from other priority provinces. 3.1 Change in knowledge or capability After the five-day training course, participants in both the ARB and Gulf Province reported a change in their knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities, improved understanding of the VC process and improved understanding of the Village Courts Act. Approximately six months after the training, the study revealed that significant changes were implemented by the Village Courts following the training experience.The following changes were implemented in both Gulf Province and the ARB: Resolving conflict through mediation first. If mediation failed then a full court sitting was held for conflicting parties. Following correct VC sitting process, e.g. almost all VCOs in attendance including the Peace Officers, more than one magistrate presiding the full court hearing, Peace Officer in between parties during the court hearing. Changes to decision-making processes such as collective decision-making and hearing views of all parties including witnesses. Punctuality and improved attendance of VCOs. In the ARB other changes implemented include: Magistrates withdrawing if parties concerned are relatives, trying to correctly fill-in the Case Register and VC forms, and raising the flags of PNG and the ARB during court sittings. In Gulf Province, one other change they tried was to have a briefing or meeting of VCOs before they conducted their business (mediation or full court sitting). During the briefing, roles were allocated and cases were discussed by VCOs. Law and justice stakeholders in both the ARB and Gulf Province believed that the following positive changes they observed were due to the VCO training program: Less complaints from the community; Improvement in the quality of completed VC forms; Quarterly reports provided by Village Courts to PVCO or VC Program Manager; and Correct VC process from mediations to full court sittings. Stakeholders in Buka commented that they observed some improvements in Village Courts’ decisions based on the decreasing number of appeals or complaints from the people. Similarly, stakeholders from Kerema observed less complaints from the community, an indication of improved technical abilities of VCOs and community acceptance of Village Courts’ decisions.
png-evaluation-village-court-officials-training-march-2016.docx