05 December 2012

Supporting basic education in PNG

Foreign Minister Senator Bob Carr announced yesterday an A$12 million Australian contribution for free education for Papua New Guinea children from remote and disadvantaged backgrounds.

Speaking at Notre Dame Secondary School in Western Highlands Province, Senator Carr said the funding would provide tuition fee subsidies to more than 6,000 elementary schools.

"Education offers hope and opportunity for tens of thousand of PNG children and their families," Senator Carr said.

"Tuition fees have impeded the spread of exudates on in rural and remote PNG particularly among girls. The average length of schooling in PNG is four years, with adult literacy at around 60 per cent.

"Australia's funds will go directly to schools to deliver the basics of reading and arithmetic”.

"This is what Australians want - supporting our regional neighbours with basic education and services to help lift communities out of poverty."

In 2013, the Government of PNG has allocated approximately A$300 million for school subsidies and equipment.

Australia has contributed A$35 million in support for PNG's tuition free education policy since 2010, supporting more than 535,000 elementary school to receive tuition-fee free education.

Funding covers teacher training, text books and basic school materials, to allow schools to operate without incurring substantial funding shortfalls.

Australia is also funding the construction of 1,100 classrooms and 450 teacher house, water tanks and ablution blocks, as well as four million textbooks by 2015.