A classroom in Papua New Guinea. Credit: World Bank

Partner since:

Total grant support: US$40,487,770

Grant eligibility:

  • Multiplier
  • Girls' Education Accelerator
  • System capacity
  • System transformation

Education sector plan

Objective: Give everyone an opportunity to be educated and to transform their lives using a holistic, inclusive and integrated approach.

Other key documents

Transforming education in Papua New Guinea

In 2015, Papua New Guinea operationalized a national education plan (NEP) for basic education. The plan which originally covered the years 2015-2019, was recently extended until 2020 and identifies six focus areas for interventions:

  • Access and equity
  • Teachers and teaching
  • Learning
  • Alternate pathways (including TVET)
  • Local management
  • System strengthening.

Gender equality is also a cross-cutting theme reflected across the entire plan and its implementation.

The plan provides strategic direction for an integrated approach to education in Papua New Guinea and focuses on improving the quality of education for all. The NEP was endorsed by all partners including civil society organizations in 2017 following an independent appraisal.

In 2017, PNG revived the education sector improvement program (ESIP) committee as the local education group in the country.

The purpose of the ESIP committee is to facilitate effective and efficient education development in PNG through better information exchange and coordination between the National Department of Education and development partners working in the education sector.

Result story

Scholarships support tertiary education for young women in Papua New Guinea

Read how Papua New Guinea is improving teachers’ skills and increasing the number of female teachers with support from GPE and Save the Children.

Key data

22%

out-of-school rate for children of lower-secondary school age

13%

of government expenditure on education

Grants

(data as of December 18, 2024)

 
  • Type: System capacity

    Years: 2022 - 2025

    Allocation: US$700,000

    Utilization: US$341,183

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: Program implementation and Multiplier

    Years: 2022 - 2024

    Allocation: US$8,020,000

    Utilization: US$8,020,000

    Grant agent: Save the Children Australia

Civil society engagement

As part of its investment in civil society advocacy and social accountability efforts, GPE’s Education Out Loud fund is supporting Papua New Guinea Education Advocacy Network (PEAN) for the 2024-2026 period. This builds on previous support from the Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF).

Learn more

Knowledge and innovation

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