Mount Wilhelm
Photo courtesy of Alpine Ascents International

Member Since 1973

Partner Ministry/Organization
Department of Education

Address of Embassy in Manila
3Rd/F Corinthian Plaza Condominium Building, Paseo De Roxas, Gamboa Street, Makati City, Philippines

Participation in Regional Programs (2018-2024)
  • Joint-Training Programme on Greening TVET for Sustainable Development, May 6-10, 2024, Singapore, in collaboration with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Singapore; Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP); ITE-Education Services (ITEES) Singapore
  • Regional Program on Navigating the Future of TVET: Addressing Challenges and Fostering Positive Change, December 4-6, 2023, Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines, in collaboration with Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation, Inc. (TMPF); Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology (TMP Tech)
  • Regional Program on Empowering TVET Sector through Digitalization and Climate Resilient Skills for Sustainable Development, October 16-20, 2023, Manila, Philippines, in collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB)
  • Regional Program on Revolutionalize TVET: Innovation in Transformational Pedagogy, Competency Building and International Collaboration, October 2-5, 2023, Johor, Malaysia, in collaboration with Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM); and Malaysia Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (MyRIVET)
  • Regional Program on Leadership for Sustainable TVET and Senior Executive Conference for CPSC Strategic Plan 2023-2028, December 12-16, 2022, Bangkok, Thailand, in collaboration with Office of Vocational Education Commission (OVEC)
  • 2022 CPSC-BFIC Busan Global Training Program on Digital and Infrastructure Transformation on Engineering, Design and Pedagogy in TVET: Smart City Transportation with ITS Model (Phase 1), November 14-18, 2022, Online, in collaboration with Busan Foundation for International Cooperation (BFIC)
  • Regional Program on TVET Strategic Planning and Experts' Meeting for the CPSC Strategic Plan 2023-2028, November 7-11, 2022, Shah Alam, Malaysia, in collaboration with Department of Polytechnic and Community Colleges (DPCCE)
  • Regional Program on Effective Methods of TVET Curriculum Development to Integrate 21st Century Skills, September 21-25, 2020, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Equipping Future Workforce with 21st Century and Technopreneurship Skills through Quality TVET Programs, February 2-6, 2020, Dhaka, Bangladesh, in collaboration with Institution of Diploma Engineers (IDEB)-Bangladesh
  • Regional Program on Quality Assurance in TVET and APACC Strategic Planning, October 21-25, 2019,
    Manila, Philippines
  • Regional Program on Skilling TVET in the Era of Industrial Revolution 4.0, August 25-29, 2019,
    Manila, Philippines
  • Regional Program on Entrepreneurship in TVET and International Conference on Skilling for Self-Employment, February 18-22, 2019, Chandigarh, India, in collaboration with National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR)-Chandigarh
  • Regional Program on Quality and Sustainable TVET and International Conference on Skills in TVET for Sustainability, October 8-10, 2018, Chennai, India, in collaboration with National Institute of Technical Teachers' Training and Research (NITTTR)-Chennai

Recent Programs Held (2018-2023)
No programs were conducted in Papua New Guinea from 2018 to 2023

Country Flag


Official Name
Independent State of Papua New Guinea

Land Area
462,840 km²

Country Borders
Indonesia (West)
Australia (South)

Capital
Port Moresby

Religion
Christianity

Language
Dzongkha

Language
English
Hiri Motu
Tok Pisin
Papua New Guinean Sign Language

Demonym
Papua New Guinean

National Holiday
16 September 1975 (Independence from Australia)

Photo courtesy of PNG Education News

No. of Years - Primary Education
6 years

No. of Years - Middle School
4 years

No. of Years - Secondary Education
2 years

No. of Years - Tertiary Education (Bachelor)
4 years

No. of Years - Tertiary Education (Master)
1 to 2 years

No. of Years - Tertiary Education (Doctorate)
3 years

Ministry of Supervising Education
Department of Education

Agency Handling TVET
National Department of of Education (NDoE); Office of Higher Education; The National Training Council (NTC)

Formal TVET System
Technical, Vocational Education Training provides relevant practical skills, attitudes, knowledge, and understanding relating to the skills needed in various sectors of the formal and informal economic and social life of Papua New Guinea.

A wide range of courses is offered in the Technical and Business Colleges and 133 Vocational Training Centers throughout the country from full- time courses for those who have completed Grades 8, 10 and 12. In 2019, it was also recorded that a total of 50 Public/Church TVET institutions and 150 Private TVET institutions existed in the country. Extension courses for apprenticeship training and short courses to provide further opportunities for the general community and those already in the workforce.

Courses are developed in close consultation with key stakeholders including the National Apprenticeship and Trade Testing Board, National Training Council, Industry, Provincial Governments, and the community. (All courses are accredited through the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Likewise, there are career pathways from schools to TVET to employment, with some further higher education and training.

Qualification Framework
The Papua New Guinea National Qualifications Framework (PNGNQF) is a system of formal qualifications for post-secondary (tertiary) education which usually awards certificate, diploma, bachelor, master, and doctorate after the completion of formal studies. This 10-level qualification of PNGNQF defines the standard of learning as based on its purpose, volume and progression opportunities. The framework ensures the comparability in the standards, quality of education qualifications and awards as recognized both nationally and internationally.

Level of PNQNQS

Source: Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, PNGNQF (Second Edition)


TVET Financing
The public providers of TVET in Papua New Guinea are the TBCs and the VTCs, which are funded through the support coming from the Government of Papua New Guinea. This funds the teacher salary costs and tuition fees. Meanwhile, the private providers of TVET offer a wide variety of TVET courses, and fees are the largest source of funding. The fees are generally paid by the students but there are also contributions from employers and other sources.

Furthermore, the private providers most directly comparable with the public providers are those which offer externally accredited formal qualifications. Their fees per course week tend to be significantly higher than those of the public providers, partly reflecting the public subsidy supporting the latter.

Petroleum industry in Papua New Guinea
Photo courtesy of Upstream Online

GDP
5% (2023)
Source: International Monetary Fund

Currency
Papua New Guinea Kina (PGK)

Major Exports
Petroleum Gas ($4.17B)
Gold ($1.72B)
Copper Ore ($815M)
Palm Oil ($706M)
Nickel Mattes ($662M)

Major Imports
Refined Petroleum ($421M)
Rice ($123M)
Delivery Trucks ($105M)
Excavation Machinery ($98.2M)
Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($86.3M)

Major Export Partners
Japan ($2.71B)
China ($2.71B)
Australia ($1.7B)
Chinese Taipei ($697M)
South Korea ($617M)

Major Import Partners
Australia ($1.13B)
China ($1.05B)
Singapore ($539M)
Malaysia ($340M)
Indonesia ($197M)

Portraits of King Charles II (left) and Governor General H.E. Bob Dadae (right)
Photo courtesy of People Magazine and Government House of Papua New Guinea

Type of Government
Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy

Head of State
His Majesty King Charles III
King of Papua New Guinea

His Excellency Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae GCL GCMG KStJ
Governor-General

Head of Government
Hon. James Marape MP
Prime Minister and Acting Minister for Treasury

Branches of Government
The Executive British (Represented by the Governor General; Prime Minister)
The Legislative (Unicameral Parliament)
The Judicial (Supreme Court)

National Repentance Day
Photo courtesy of The National

Literacy Rate
63.4% (2023)

Country Code
+675

ISO Code
PG

Internet TLD
.pg

Other Important Holidays
King Charles’ Birthday (June 10)
National Remembrance Day (July 23)
National Repentance Day (August 26)
Boxing Day (December 26)


References
  • https://unevoc.unesco.org/home/Dynamic+TVET+Country+Profiles/country=PNG
  • https://research.acer.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=transitions_mis
  • https://www.scholaro.com/db/Countries/Papua-New-Guinea/Education-System
  • https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/profile/PNG
  • https://oec.world/en/profile/country/png
  • https://www.info.dfat.gov.au/info/hog/hog.nsf
  • https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/papuanewguinea/35862.htm
  • https://asiapacificreport.nz/2023/08/08/pngs-literacy-rate-lowest-in-pacific-but-government-plans-boost-to-70/
  • https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/papua-new-guinea/