The Papua New Guinea and Australia education and development partnership is reaching new heights thanks to an exciting secondary schools initiative involving 12 of PNG’s highest performing schools.
A joint activity of the Governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea, the PNGAus Partnership Secondary Schools initiative recognises the role of young people in securing a prosperous future for Papua New Guinea. It will bring together Papua New Guinean and Australian students, teachers and school leaders in a range of learning activities – including collaborative projects and mentoring – to better prepare future generations to thrive in a technology-driven 21st century.
Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Education, the Hon Joseph Yopyyopy, officially launched the initiative at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Port Moresby on 27 August. Senior representatives of the PNG Government and attendees from several of the participating PNG schools were also present to mark the occasion.
‘I am delighted to launch this exciting new initiative, which deepens the PNG-Australia Partnership. It is investing in our most important resource: people,’ Minister Payne said.
‘The PNGAus Partnership Secondary Schools initiative will give Papua New Guinean and Australian students invaluable opportunities together. This is another example of Australia’s enduring commitment to Papua New Guinea and one of many exciting initiatives under our Pacific Step Up.’
In its initial phase, PNGAus Partnership Secondary Schools will target students in years 9 and 11. It will directly reach over 2,400 students from 24 secondary schools in PNG and Australia to strengthen capabilities in areas such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), English language, youth leadership and girls’ education.
The PNGAus Partnership Secondary Schools initiative will work with 12 of Papua New Guinea’s highest performing schools in 2019:
- Aiyura National High School, Eastern Highlands
- Anditale High School, Enga
- Don Bosco (Araimiri) Secondary School, Gulf
- Gumini Secondary School, Simbu
- Kerevat National High School, East New Britain
- Mt Hagen Secondary School, Western Highlands
- Passam National High School, East Sepik
- Sogeri National High School, Central
- St Gabriel Technical Secondary School, Western
- St Mary’s (Asitavi), Autonomous Region of Bougainville
- Vanimo Secondary School, West Sepik
- Wawin National High School, Morobe
PNGAus Partnership Secondary Schools will build communities of learning with PNG and Australian students learning together in both countries. Links will also be made with the schools participating in the Australia-Pacific BRIDGE School Partnerships Pilot Program – Mercy (Yarapos) Secondary School in Wewak, and Carr Memorial Primary School in Port Moresby.
The launch saw the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between Sogeri National High School in Central Province and Cherrybrook Technology High School in NSW, Australia. The two schools have been paired under PNGAus Partnership Secondary Schools given their shared interest in STEM education.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100