Parliament Exposes Shocking Gaps in PNG’s 166 Policy Rollout.

Описание: A serious concern about Papua New Guinea’s education system was raised in Parliament during Question Time, as Members of Parliament scrutinised the rollout of the 166 education policy.
During the debate, the Minister for Higher Education revealed a striking statistic: while more than 437,000 students start at elementary and primary school levels, only about 30,000 students reach Grade 12. The data immediately raised concern among MPs about the effectiveness of the education pipeline and the readiness of schools to support the 166 policy.
The question was first raised by the Member for Middle Fly, Maso Hewabi, who acknowledged that the policy is a positive initiative aimed at expanding opportunities for Grade 12 school leavers to enter tertiary institutions. However, he highlighted serious challenges faced by schools, particularly in Western Province, including the lack of classrooms, teacher accommodation, and basic education infrastructure.
He then asked the Minister what plans the government has to support schools so they can effectively implement the policy, and whether there are additional funding sources apart from the Tuition Fee Free Policy.
Supplementary questions were also raised by the Members for Ijivitari District and Abau District, focusing on the infrastructure costs required to properly roll out the 166 policy and the alarming drop in student numbers reaching Grade 12.
This parliamentary commentary examines the key issues raised in the debate, including education infrastructure, policy implementation challenges, and the broader implications for Papua New Guinea’s education system.
Topics covered:
PNG Parliament debate
166 Education Policy
Education infrastructure challenges
Student progression from elementary to Grade 12
Government policy implementation
Parliamentary scrutiny and accountability
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