Module 4: The Education System and
Structure of Education in PNG.
Introduction
We, as teachers, leaders and people must know where
we want to go before we can decide how we should get
there. Before a driver starts a motor car, he should first
decide on his destination. Otherwise his driving will be
without purpose, and he will achieve nothing. We Papua
New Guineans are now in the driving seat. The road
which we should follow ought to be marked out so that all
will know the way ahead.
Visions, missions, policies, aims, goals and objectives are
driving forces that push individuals, organisations and
institutions to a destination. Without these forces, no
organisations or individuals will move forward. The
government through the education department has
developed its missions, goals, objectives and policies to
guide the education system in PNG so that citizens are
educated up to a standard where they can live meaningful
lives in their communities. This module will focus on the
government’s vision, policies, missions, aims, goals,
objectives, and the 3-6-4 education structure in the
education system in PNG.
It is a requirement that all curriculum
development supports the government policy-
related documents and should reflect the
Philosophy of Education’s recommendations and
intentions based on the Integral Human
Development.
The role of Curriculum Development Unit is to
develop curriculum materials (Early Childhood
Education – Senior High School),distribute these
materials to the schools and see to it that they are
taught effectively and to examine their effectiveness.
National Education Plan
The National Education Plan is the; Foundation for the Plan
that aims to achieve a better future.
The objectives of the Plan are guided by;
1. The PNG National Goals and Directive Principles
2. International Obligations, in particular the Millennium
Development Goals & Educational all Goals.
3. Gov’t Objectives in the education sector, as outlined in
the Mission Statement and the Medium Term Strategy.
4. Community Demands as determined during Provincial
Consultations.
1. National Goals & Directive Principles
The plan is guided and established in the Constitution as;
1.1. Integral Human Development
This goal aims to involve every individual in the process of
freeing himself/herself from every form of domination or
oppression so that each man or woman will have the
opportunity to develop as a whole person in relationship
with others.
1.2. Equality and Participation
We declare our second goal to be for all citizens to have
an equal opportunity to participate in, and benefit from,
the development of our country.
1.3. National Sovereignty and Self-Reliance
This goal is for PNG to be politically and economically
independent ,and be self-reliant in economical terms.
1.4. National Resources and Environment
This goal is for PNG ‘s Natural Resources and Environment
to be conserved and used for collective benefits for us all,
and be replenished for the benefit of future generations.
1.5. Papua New Guineans Ways
The last and fifth goal is to achieve development primarily
through the use of PNGian forms of social, political and
economic organizations.
2. 1. Millennium Development Goals
The Eight Millennium Development Goals are developed
by the United Nations and PNG is committed to are;
2.1. 1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
2.1. 2. Achieve Universal Primary Education
2.1. 3. Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women.
2.1. 4. Reduce Child Mortality
2.1. 5. Improve Maternal Health
2.1. 6. Combat HIV/AIDS and other Diseases.
2.1. 7. Ensure Environment Sustainability
2.1. 8. Develop a Global partnership for development.
2.2. Education for all - Goals
There are six (6) Education for All - Goals that were agreed by
all United nations at Jomtien,Thailand,in 1990 and was
reaffirmed in, Dakar, Senegal ,and that PNG has committed to
are;
2.2.1. Expanding and Improving Comprehensive Early Childhood
Care and Education.
2.2.2. Ensuring that by 2015 ,all children have access to Free
and Compulsory Primary Education of good quality education.
2.2.3. The learning needs of all young people and adults are
met through equitable access to appropriate learning and life
skills programs.
2.2.4. Achieving a 50% improvement in levels of adult literacy
by 2005.
2.2.5. Eliminating Gender Disparities in education by 2005.
2.2.6. Improving all aspects of the Quality and Excellence of
Education with Measurable Learning Outcomes.
3.1. Medium Term Development Strategy
This plan is in accord with the core development strategy of
the Medium Term Development Strategy 2005-2010 and are
consistent with requirement to empower PNGians to
mobilize their own resources for higher living standards.
The education sector under this strategy focuses on
Elementary Education as the first priority,TVET as the
second, and secondary and tertiary education as the third
and fourth priorities.
The strategy will focus in supporting the implementation of
reform aimed at achieving Universal Primary Education.
Under the goal of Universal Primary Education, all children
will be able to complete nine years of basic education.
3.2. Department of Education Mission
The Department of Education’s mission, as defined by the
NEC are;
3.2.1. To facilitate and promote the Integral Human
Development of very individual.
3.2.2. To develop and encourage an education system
which satisfies the requirements of PNG and its People.
3.2.3. To establish, preserve and improve standards of
education throughout PNG.
3.2.4. To make the benefits of such education available
widely as possible to all of the people.
3.2.5. To make education accessible to the poor and
physically,mentally,and socially handicapped as well as
those who are educationally disadvantaged.
3.3. Department of Education’s Aim
To be Consistent with the philosophy of Integral Human
Development enshrined in the National Constitution and the
Philosophy of Education, government has called for an education
system which;
Gives value and status back to appropriate community attitudes,
knowledge and skills relevant to community development, and
Supplements this with a degree of competence in English,
Mathematics and Science.
To ensure the development of citizens who are:
Committed to their own personal development and view
education as a continuing life long process; Embedded with a
productive work ethic and value both rural and urban community
development activities in a context of national development.
Prepared for the realities of life in most communities.
Capable of participating in further training for manpower needs.
3.4. The Department of Education’s Objectives
The National Executive Council assigned four National Objectives to
the Department of Education and the DHERST.
To develop a schooling system to meet the needs of Papua New
Guinea and its people which provides appropriately for the return
of children to the village community, for formal employment, or for
continuation to further education and training
To provide basic schooling for all children who are ready for it as
this becomes financially feasible (possible).
To help people to understand the changes that is occurring in
contemporary society by the provision of non-formal education
and literacy programs.
To identify the human power development needs in the public and
private sector and to provide appropriate higher education,
development and training programs
Where is the current curriculum in schools?
• There are no big changes in the school curriculum in PNG schools.
The content of the courses and the materials used for these
courses remain fairly the same and will continue for some time.
Improvements in the materials and various course in tune with the
National Government Aims and Objectives which are further
developed in the Philosophy of Education. However, the
development of the Curriculum Overview sees quite a drastic
change at the different levels of education as far as education
reform intention is concerned.
• From the National Objectives to the Department of Education and
the Commission for Higher Education, three programs were
developed:
• Literacy and Awareness
• Relevant Education for All
• Access and Expansion
• These programs highlight the specific national objectives
which the department of education is particularly required
to pay attention to.
• Since the amalgamation of the Department of Higher
Education, Research Science and Technology (DHERST)
and the Department of Education, DOE is responsible for
all programs.
1. Literacy and Awareness Programme
This is the first document that deals with the urgent need
to promote the acquisition of literacy by all our people. It
provides for the acquisition of initial literacy by all
children in the vernacular and contains a vision for the
dissemination of awareness information in cooperation
with other departments.
2. Relevant Education for All Programme
• The second document that is aimed at defining what we
mean by education and deals with the need to
developing education systems which will give an
appropriate place to the languages, cultures of our
communities, reflect a realistic understanding of the
concerns and conditions of the people and which will
prepare our children to contribute effectively and
productively to the community and national
development.
• This programme pay particular attention to the National
Objective No. 24
• “to develop a schooling system to meet the needs of
PNG and its people which provides appropriately for the
return of children to the village community, for formal
employment and continuation to further education of
training”.
3. Education Access and Expansion Programme
The third specification document that deals with the need
to provide an expansion in the education system to give
chance for children to enter education and continue as far
as possible.
• This programme pays particular attention to the National
Objectives No.25
• ‘To provide basic education for all children’.
• The Curriculum of the school is one positive move
towards achieving these goals. The basic directions are
per the three Programme Specific Documents and in
particular the first Programme Specific – Literacy and
Awareness and the second one – Relevant Education for
All.
• The basic intention in the curriculum is the need to
develop in the student skills and knowledge he/she
would need to become an effective and productive
citizen in his /her own community.
Quality and Standards in Education for All
The National Education System (NES) had grown dramatically in the
last 40 years. The 2017 Education Management Information System
(EMIS) data has revealed that there are approximately 66,789
teachers, 2,157,000 students in 9,400 elementary schools, 4,058
primary schools, 299 secondary schools and high schools, and 148
vocational schools registered operating in the [Link] is
progressing on the shift from the current 3-6-4 structure to 1-6-6-
school structure through the NEC decision No.315/2016.
The decision renamed the elementary sector to pre-school and also
reducing it to 1 year of schooling however, continuing to keep the
entry age at 6 years. Primary schooling will remain 6 years but with
the inclusion of Grades 1 and 2 which are previously E1 and E2 from
elementary school. Secondary schools will now consist of grade 7 to
12 with junior and senior high school.