Welcome Messages

Vision and Mission Statement


NDoE Minister's Message Minister's
Welcome Message
Hon. Mr James Marape, MP		 NDoE Secretary's Message Secretary's
Welcome Message
Dr. Joseph Pagelio

Papua New Guinea and its Education System.

The colonial administration education system and a number of church run systems that started in the 1940's ran independently until the early 1970's when the current national education system was established.

In 1973, the Papua New Guinea education system had approximately 1,050 institutions, 9,060 teachers, and 254,000 students. By 2003, the system had grown to one employing around 33,000 teachers, and almost one million students in 4,000 elementary schools, 3,300 primary schools, 170 secondary schools and 140 vocational schools. Today there are six prominent church agencies apart from the government operating the schools, which are governed by 20 provincial education boards and managed by 20 provincial education divisions. There is also a small yet growing number of privately run autonomous schools throughout the country.

Papua New Guinea has a highly decentralized education system following the establishment of the provincial government system in 1978. The decentralized laws have given the provinces responsibilities including planning, financing, staffing and maintaining general education institutions up to Grade 12. This includes pre-school, elementary, primary, secondary and vocational schools.

Vision and Mission (2005 - 2014)

  • OUR VISION - Is intergral human development achieved through and affordable education system that appreciate Christian and traditional values, and that prepares literate, skilled and healthy citizens by concentrating on the growth and development of each individual's personal viability and character formation, while ensuring all can contribute to the peace and prosperity of the nation.


  • OUR MISSION - The Department of Education's mission, as defined by the National Executive Council, is fivefold:

    • To facilitate and promote the integral development of every individual
    • To develop and encourage an education system which satisfies the requirements of Papua New Guinea and its people
    • To establish, preserve and improve standards of education throughout Papua New Guinea
    • To make the benefits of such education available as widely as possible to all of the people
    • To make education accessible to the poor and physically, mentally and socially handicapped as well as to those who are educationally disadvantaged.

    In addition, the Department of Education's mission, as determined by the Gender Equity in in Education Policy (Department of Education 2003), is to improve educational opportunities for women and girls.