Papua New Guinea‎

Official PNG Students Online Data Collection System 2025-2026 | Grade 8, 10 and 12

We are pleased to inform you about PNG Students Online Data Collection System 2025-2026 | Grade 8, 10 and 12

The Students Data Collection System (SDCS) was launched on the 16th of April 2019 by Minister for Education Hon. Nick Kuman. The aim of this system is to capture students’ information in real-time, online.

SDCS Website

https://sdcs.puremathsolutions.com

Click here to go straight to the Students Data Collection System (SDCS)

The system builds on the Students’ Online Results platform implemented last year, 2018. Indicatively, the Online Data Collection System is an ‘input online platform’. Whereas, the Online Result System is an ‘output online platform’.

Only the validated provincial education officers and principals in the provinces will be able to log in, enter and send data to Port Moresby.

SIBs vs Online Data Collection

Up to now, the school headteachers, deputy principals and Provincial Examination Superintendent (PES) led with manual completion of SIBs (Students Information Booklets). The booklets are sent to the Measurement Services Division (MSD) from all over the country.

The process is manual and tedious. It can take months on end to get the data to MSD. The vision of the education department to take this function online is relieving. Hence, the development of the data collection platform.

The SDCS – or Students Online Data Collection System – has features similar to the manual SIBs. It is an Excel-based software.

For example, the permitted user enters a student’s data in the required fields. On completion of data entry, he/she sends it to the education department – MSD.

The system has corrective measures. It gives prompts for errors so that the validated user can correct and send the data, free of errors.

Validated Users: who are the main users?

The primary (validated) users of the Students Data Collection System (SDCS) are PESs, principals and deputy principals of schools. Not the students or any other teachers. The schools and designated users play an important role in the provinces.

Firstly, the Grade 8 data will be the responsibility of the Grade 8 PES based in each province. He/she will validate (and enter) the raw data. This will happen in collaboration with the primary (or high) school principals. Essentially, the key person for Grade 8 students’ data is the PES.

Secondly, the Grade 10 and 12 student’s raw data remains the responsibility of the school deputy principals and principals. They will ensure that the correct ( and accurate) data of their students reach the Measurement Services Division (MSD) of the National Department of Education on time.

Recently, the Grade 8 PESs (Provincial Examination Superintendents) were in the nation’s capital for the launching of the SDCS. They will have a fair idea about the user interface of the new system when they return to their provinces.

Other PESs, school deputy principals and principals are also encouraged to get up to speed with the system.

IMPORTANT: The school principals, deputies and Grade PESs must take ownership of the online SDCS. If they are uncertain about the system’s User Interface, they should get in touch with MSD asap.

Internet connection required

The question of NO Internet may be a non-issue because most of the work will be done by either the school deputy principals or PESs in the provinces’ capitals.

In hindsight, the primary users (PESs and principals) will compile all the raw data from the School Internal Assessments (AP1&AP2) and Subject Nominations on ‘preformatted Excel Spreadsheet’. This can be done offline. After data entry, they can then UPLOAD the ‘Populated Spreadsheets’ on to the SDCS by using the internet.

Users’ requirements: what is needed by validated users?

Unlike the School Online Result System released (and used) in 2018, the new Students’ Data Collection System is NOT compatible with mobile devices.

That means that the primary users will have to use a laptop or PC to enter data.

IMPORTANT: Users can enter data on Excel offline and upload it onto the system when online.

The basic requirements for using the new online data management system are:

User account (user name and password)
Laptop/PC
Microsoft Excel data entry skill
Internet connection

The website is NOT mobile-friendly.

Importance of correct Students Data

Collecting data is a tedious task. However, the online SDCS simplifies the task. And, makes information available in real-time to the education department.

One can not underestimate the importance of getting accurate data online.

So, the benefits to key stakeholders are as follows (but not exhaustive): The education department will be in a better position to

figure out the accurate number of Grade 8, 10 and 12 students.
identify each student by their ID photo.
receive the Internal (school) assessment mark – SASS and SAPS – on time.
use the data to print the accurate number of Grade 8, 10 and 12 examination papers.
confirm the school population with the issuance of Tuition Fee grants (probably).
know how many schools in the country are operating.

Above all, the data collection platform is an effective way to record the internal assessment marks of primary and secondary school students.

Education department vision – SDCS

As mentioned earlier, the online SDCS and the Grade 12 Online Examination Result platform are two examples of modernizing the education system.

The minister in his launching speech said that

‘Every year K2 billion is invested in the education sector….

This (online system) is the government’s effort to see how best it can deliver quality education to the people. Hon Nick Kuman

He further said

‘In the future, I’d like to see examinations online…we can deliver exams online’ Hon Nick Kuman

Technology’s place in Education

The department’s vision to streamline some of the functions of its divisions and subdivisions is a step in the right direction.

The school population has doubled in the last 10 years. Hence, there is an ever-increasing demand to look for innovative ways to improve the education system. And, technology is the way forward.

In retrospect, any online system will have long-term issues. The issues can be both internal and external and affect the system’s durability.

In order to sustain the system long term, there have got to be mitigating measures from the beginning. In any case of technical errors or server overload or change of management, the mitigating measures will sustain the system.

Online Systems Shortfalls

Having stated that, the mitigating measures do not have to come late. In fact, the answer to these 5 questions will ensure continuity. (NOTE: The questions are also forward-looking statements)

1. How will/can the Grade 12 Online Result Platform, Online Data Collection System, Online Examination and other online intervention systems envisioned by the education department be combined into one system?

2. Is the online system sustainable, and how?

3. What are the opportunities and threats for the Online Data System?

4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Students’ Online Data Collection System?

5. How can the different divisions of the National Department of Education in Papua New Guinea work together to create a powerful network of systems?

6. How can the technological advances in the Education System help achieve the Vision (and Mission) of the department by 2050?

In closure, the senior education officers should be congratulated for leading the change. In fact, it is reassuring to know that a change is happening today.

If you know school heads or principals please share this message with them or on social media. Or, leave a comment below if you want more information.

Note: If you have questions or corrections regarding this post, kindly use the comment box below.

PNG Police Recruitment 2025-2026 | Application Form, Requirements & Dates

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Papua New Guinea Police Recruitment 2025-2026 | Application Form, Requirements & Dates

We are pleased to inform you about Papua New Guinea Police Recruitment 2025-2026 | Application Form, Requirements & Dates

Police recruitment in Papua New Guinea has been an ongoing initiative the Government of Papua New Guinea has put in place. The main purpose of PNG police
recruitment is to increase the police force in the country. The police department through the Royal Papua New Guinea Police Constabulary has taken the responsibility to recruit new officers every year.

Also for you: PNG Defence Force Recruitment 2024-2025 | Application Form, Dates & Requirements

On this site, we provide some information on Police Recruitment. Before Applying for
Police Recruitments, you must consider the following.
• You must be 18 to 23 years old
• Your height must be at least 164 cm and above.
• Must not hold criminal records.
• Must complete Grade 12
• You must complete Grade two in the last two years.
• You must have good behaviour records
• You must be physically well-built.

How to apply.
Applications are open for recruitment twice are year.
Usually, call for recruitment are published in the local newspapers or you can write directly to the headquarters in Port Moresby for application Forms.1. Write to the Police headquarters for application forms, or if
the application forms are available in the newspapers cut out the
form.
2. Fill out the forms and attach two references and all your
academic transcripts and certificates. Send your applications to the following address.
Shortlisting and Interview.
If you are shortlisted for an interview, an officer-in-charge of
the screening process will notify you either by phone or by
print media.
– First, you will be interviewed
– Second, you will do an entry test
If you pass both the interview and entry test, you will be
shortlisted to undergo training at the Bomana Police college for six months.
For applications and general queries, write to the
Recruitment Officer
Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary
Police Headquarters
P O Box 85
Konedabu
Papua New Guinea
Phone: 322 6100 /321 1222
Fax: 322 6113

Note: If you need help, or have questions or corrections regarding this post, kindly use the comment box below.

How To Apply For PNG Defence Force Recruitment 2025-2026

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How To Apply For PNG Defence Force Recruitment 2025-2026

We are pleased as we inform you no How To Apply For PNG Defence Force Recruitment 2025-2026

How to apply for PNG Defence Force Recruitment

The PNG Defence Force Recruiting Office does NOT have an EMAIL ADDRESS and there are NO APPLICATION FORMS at the moment. This means, you only need to provide the required documents stated above to the military recruitment office. You can either send the documents by post or if you live in Port Moresby, you can hand deliver them.

By Post use the following address

Headquarters PNG Defence Force
RECRUITMENT OFFICE
PMB, BOROKO
MURRAY BARRACKS
NCD

Hand delivery
PDF Recruitment Office
Murray Barracks
Port Moresby

The applications for the PNG Defence for Training are usually announced in the media. However, recently the Defence Force made amendments to its recruitment policy and now recruit occurs annually.

GENERAL ENLISTEE APPLICATIONS

This is for applicants who want to become a Soldier to go through 3 months of recruit training in Goldie Recruit Training Depot. Both males and Females are eligible to apply.

Age: Between 18-27 years for General Enlistee

OFFICER CADET APPLICATIONS

This is if you want to become an Officer in the PNGDF. Training is for 18 months and is done at the Joint Forces Academy in Igam Barracks, Lae, formally known as the Defence Academy.

Both Males and Females are eligible to apply if they meet all the criteria

Age: Between 18-30 years for Officer Cadet

DIRECT ENTRY OFFICER APPLICATIONS

This applies to those who already have Tertiary qualifications and are
currently in the workforce, and are interested to join the force as a Specialist in your respective fields. Training is only for 3 months in Igam Barracks, Lae in which you will learn the basics of the army. Both Females and Males are
eligible to apply

Age: Between 18-30 years for Direct Entry

PNG Defence Force Requirements

Expression/Letter of Interest;
Copies of Certificates (Grades 10 &12 ) and other Tertiary Certificates;
Police clearance;
Updated CV &
Reference

Note: If you need help, or you have questions regarding this post, kindly use the comment box below.

How to Check MyPNG Exam Results Online 2025-2026

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How to Check MyPNG Exam Results Online 2025-2026 For Grade 10 and 12

We are pleased to inform you about How to Check MyPNG Exam Results Online 2025-2026 For Grade 10 and 12

The 2022 Examination Result platform for Grade 10 and Grade 12 aims to help students, parents and other stakeholders check results online – on personal computers and mobile devices.

Important notice: We have the latest article here – How to Login to My PNG Exam Results Website

Please note that we have updated this article on How to Check the Grade 10 and 12 LATEST Exam Results. The latest information to help you find out about the exam results is here:

My PNG Exam Results
Grade 10 Online Result and Grade 11 Selection Timeline

Below is how to check the result online. But first, the results are provisional only. Final and legit certification of results will be issued to students by the Measurement Services Division.

Remember: PNG Grade 12 Exam Results & Selections Online 2025-2026

Here is how to check the result online.

1. Launch my png exam results website in your browser.

2. Login details

Username: surname givenname/s

Password: yyyy pr sch cand

3. Access (download/print)

Note about login details…

1. If you have more than one given names do not leave a space in between the given name.

2. yyyy means 4 digits of the year e.g. 2018, pr is 2 digits province code, sch is 3 digits school code and cand is 4 digits candidate number.

Note: If you have questions or corrections regarding this post, kindly use the comment box below.

PNG Seasonal Workers to Australia 2025-2026

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PNG Seasonal Workers to Australia 2025-2026

We are pleased to inform you about PNG Seasonal Workers in Australia 2025-2026

The Seasonal Workers Program in PNG looks at:

Coordinate PNG Labours to work in Australia & New Zealand Farms etc.

Screen and process the applications etc…

Main Objective of the PNG Seasonal Worker Scheme

1.      Paving a way forward for unemployed and underemployed citizens;
2.      Acquire employment skills, work ethics and savings by workers;
3.      Promote reinvestment of worker remittance into productive areas in workers’ home districts and/or villages;
4.      Promote horticultural in districts of workers’ origin through collaboration with Australian and New Zealand horticulture sectors; and
5.      Ensuring equity of spread of benefits for the four regions of the Country
Basic Procedure in Handling Seasonal Worker Applications

• Must be from rural areas, ie. districts or Communicates, etc
• Actively involved in various activities that portray a good image of the respective communities and/or council wards

• Meet relevant criteria on age, education, character, etc, and shows good personal qualities.
• Applications to be endorsed/recommended by the ward Screening Committee ie. Pastors, Councilors, Village Magistrates, Village Elders, etc.

• Applications to be vetted and pre-screened by Provincial Labour Officers, NE Regional Officers, Point Entry Officers, etc.
• Applications must be filled and recorded with regard to each provincial, district, and community ward.

• Submission of application to NED Head Office (PNGSWCO)
• Applications will be-assessed by relevant Regional Team Leaders for screening and recommendation to NED Manager.

Here is the Notice to all public to consider before participating in the Seasonal work program through the National Employment Division, under the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations.

1. The Papua New Guinea Seasonal Worker Program (PNGSWP) is managed solely by the Papua New Guinea Government through the Papua New Guinea Seasonal Workers Coordination Office (PNGSWCO).

2. The Papua New Guinea Government has not appointed any person, entity (incorporated or not) group or coordinator (whatsoever the name or label) to be involved in the registration, recruitment, screening, and/or selection of eligible Papua New Guinea workers for seasonal work in Australia and New Zealand or anywhere else in the world.

3. Any person or entity pretending to be a PNG Seasonal Worker Agent for and on behalf of the PNG Government and collecting fees will be guilty of False Pretence, Forgery, and Thief and may be referred to the police for immediate arrest, charge, and prosecution.

4. The PNGSW Coordination Office does not charge any fees whatsoever for processing interested Papua New Guineans wishing to work in Australia and New Zealand.

5. The PNGSW Coordination Office provides all the necessary/relevant forms FREE OF CHARGE to interested persons.

6. The only Statutory Fees charged by various Government Agencies for processing documents can be paid directly by the applicant to The Department of Finance (Treasury Office in the Province / District as follows;

a) Birth Certificate K25.00

b) PNG Passport K100.00

c) Police Clearance K10.00

d) Medical Check/Report K20.00

e) Passport size photos K20.00

7. When all the forms are completed and checked against the “Checklist” at the basic of the Application Form;

a) Document must be lodged with all the relevant attachments at the PNGSW Coordination Office, located on the Ground Floor, Moale Building, Waigani, National Capital District.

b) PNGSW Coordination Office will register the application and issue a lodgment receipt to the Applicant for following-up purposes.

c) The application is screened and if all is in order, the Applicant will be placed in the PNG Seasonal Worker Work-Ready Pool Data for Selection by the Farmers or Approved Employers from Australia or New Zealand.

8. The SELECTION of a worker for Seasonal Worker out of the PNG Seasonal Worker Work-Ready Pool is the prerogative of the farmer / Employer in Australia / New Zealand.

For information, if you wish to clarify an issue, do not hesitate to contact one of the officers on Telephone No. 301 1600 / 325 2532 or enquire personally at the office during Client-Open days; i.e.: Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday (half-day).

Note: If you need help, or have questions or corrections regarding this post, kindly use the comment box below.

PNG Grade 10 Exam Result & Grade 11 Selection 2025-2026

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Official PNG Grade 10 Exam Result & Grade 11 Selection 2025-2026

We are pleased to inform you about PNG Grade 10 Exam Result & Grade 11 Selection 2025-2026

The important stakeholders involved in the selection of Grade 10 students to Grade 11 are the Education Department (Measurement Services Division & General Education Services Division) and secondary or national high school principals and provincial reps.

This post discusses the timeline for the release of the Grade 10 exam results and the Grade 11 selection listing. The link to the Grade 10 online result is given below.

October national examinations

Grade 10 students sit the national examinations in October every year. The week after the examinations a group of selected Grade 10 teachers marks the students’ exam scripts in each province. They, then, record the students’ marks.

The provincial examinations supervisors (PESs) are the exam coordinators in the provinces. They send the Grade 10 results to the National Education Department in Port Moresby.

November data checks and release of PNG Grade 10 exam result

Around the month of November the Education Department, through the Measurement Services Division (MSD), would have checked the data/marks of Grade 10 students.

The checking and cleansing of data usually take place before the Grade 11 selection. The verifying of students’ details and data is an important function of MSD. The activity is time-bound. MSD/NDoE does it promptly.

MSD releases the results of Grades 8, 10 and 12 after data checks and data cleansing are completed.

December Grade 11 selection

Two parties are involved in the selection process: General Education Services (GES) of the Education Department and principals or provincial reps.

In particular, MSD processes the Grade 10 examination results and makes them available online. And, releases it to the GES and principals for Grade 11 selections.

Read on to find out more about the PNG Grade 10 Exam results and Grade 11 selections timeline.

Grade 11 selection hints

The spaces at secondary and national high schools are limited to the class sizes and the number of classes. Hence, the students’ selections depend on space. Also, the selection hinges on a student’s performance in Grade 10 national examinations.

It is perhaps important to note that other factors also determine the chance of selecting a Grade 11 student for a school. Some of the influential factors are listed below:

Continuing Grade 10 students to Grade 11 in the same school
Performed exceptionally well in Grade 10 examinations
Parents and guardians wrote to the school principals indicating their reason/s for wanting to enrol their children to grade 11 in a particular school
Special changes of circumstances (e.g. family reasons, job transfer, etc.) may allow for the principals to select students to continue Grade 11 at their schools
Students preferences on the School Leavers Forms (SLF)

Grade 10 Exam result

The launching of online exam results happens after the checking and cleansing of the examination data. In hindsight, the Grade 10 exam results make it easy for students, parents and guardians to access the results at their convenience.

Release Grade 11 selection list

In hindsight, the MSD/NDoE puts a lot of work into getting the data (exam results) ready on time for General Education Services (GES) and principals to use in the Grade 11 selections. The Grade 10 results used in the selections are also made available online for parents, guardians and students to see.

The GES of the Education department works with the selectors (principals) during the Grade 11 selection. The selection can take up to a week or two. When the selection is complete, GES publishes the Grade 11 selection list on the department’s website.

Meanwhile, students, parents and communities will have to wait for the official announcement (and publication) on the Education Department website.

This website does not publish the Grade 11 selection list.

An article titled Grade 11 Selection Info & Updates provides more details. So, check out how to identify the students’ names on Grade 11 selected listing through the link provided.

PNG Grade 10 Exam Results Grade 11 selection list

The Grade 10 exam results will be available to principals for Grade 11 selections on the FIRST to the SECOND WEEK of December every year.

Normally, it takes about a week or two to do the selection. That means that the students, parents and stakeholders will expect the list of names to be available to them around the THIRD WEEK of December if all goes according to plan.

To put it in perspective, the overall timeline (which may not be the same year-on-year) is as follows:

Grade 10 examinations (early to mid-October)
Exams marking (late October)
Grade 10 results from the provinces arrive at the Education Department in Port Moresby (early November)
Data Checks and cleansing (mid to late November)
Publishing of Grade 10 Exam results (late November to early December)
Release of Grade 11 selection listing (mid-December)

3 months to complete exam process

There you have it. It takes 3 months to complete the following examination process:

taking the Grade 10 examinations,
marking of exams, cleaning of data,
launching of results and
finalising the Grade 11 selection.

The key divisions are MSD and GES of the Education Department, Principals and provincial reps. They play an active role in producing PNG Grade 10 Exam Results and the selection of Grade 11 students in the country.]

Note: If you have questions or corrections regarding this post, kindly use the comment box below.

DHERST Selection Lists 2025-2026 | Grade 12

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DHERST Selection Lists Grade 12 2025-2026 | PDF Download

We are pleased to inform you about DHERST Selection Lists 2025-2026 | Grade 12

Grade 12 students are looking forward to the release of the DHERST’s Grade 12 Selection Lists 2023 for the new Academic Year. The higher education department listed the dates for the Grade 12 Grace Period and the selection list release date.

2022 Grade 12 students must adjust their School Leaver’s Choices during the Grace Period. Read on to find out about the crucial dates you need to know.

What’s best about DHERST Grade 12 Grace Period 2022

DHERST released the dates for the Grade 12 Grace Period and the 2022/2023 Selection Lists in good time. In hindsight, DHERST pegs the Grace Period to Monday the 12^th of December 2022. The Grace Period ends on Thursday the 15^th of December 2022.

The Grace Period means the Education Department (MSD) must release the Grade 12 results before the 12th of December 2022.

DHERST will not be happy if NDoE delays the Grade 12 results beyond the date they set for the Grace Period.

DHERST Grade 12 Selection Lists 2022 Release Date

As planned, DHERST will release the 2022 selection lists for the 2023 academic year on Wednesday the 21^st of December 2022.

Grade 12 students have 4 days to adjust their school leavers’ (SLF) choices to higher institutions. And, wait 10 days before the PNG Universities and Non-universities Acceptance Lists 2023 come out.

Check Grade 12 (and Grade 10 Exam) results

According to the MSD’s Results Portal, Grade 12 and Grade 10 exam results will come out on the 11th of December 2022. Students can check their results from 11 AM.

The release of the exam results and the Grade 12 Grace Period are just a day apart – perfect. DHERST will be happy with the result release date.

Note: If you have questions or corrections regarding this post, kindly use the comment box below.

PNG Grade 12 Exam Results & Selections Online 2025-2026

Admin

Official PNG Grade 12 Exam Results & Selections Online

We are pleased to inform you about PNG Grade 12 Exam Results & Selections Online

The Grade 12 exam results and online selections are timely interventions in the education system. The online results and selections are the functions of two different education bodies. Namely the National Education Department (NDoE) and the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST).

In this article, we highlight two pressing development dilemmas in education: the increasing number of secondary schools and Grade 12 students in the last 5 years. Do we also ask whether the growth in the number of schools and students is sustainable?

Highlights of Grade 12 Exam Results and Selections

Firstly, it would be beneficial to know some background information about Grade 12 online selections and online results.

Grade 12 Exam results website: mypngexamsresults.com
Grade 12 Online Selection Website: apply.dherst.gov.pg
20 schools producing Grade 12 for the first time in the last 2 years
82 new Secondary Schools status achieved between 2015 and 2019
5,800 additional Grade 12 students passed out since 2015

The Grade 12 exam result online is produced and made available to the students by the Measurement Services Division (MSD) of NDoE.

Whereas, DHERST facilitates the Grade 12 online selection system – also called the National Online Selection System or NOSS.

Read this article (Grade 12 Online Results vs Grade 12 Online Selection – differentiated) for more information regarding the functions of the two departments.

Grade 12 Exam Results Online

The Grade 12 exam result online started in 2018. This year marks the second year since the result of Grade 12 students in the country becomes available on the internet. It was the initiative of the Measurement Services Division (MSD) of the National Education Department.

Parents and students can access the Grade 12 online results through this URL: mypngexamsresults.com. This year the online platform includes the results for the FODE, Grade 8, Grade 10 and Grade 12. This is a massive improvement.

Past students and parents will remember the time when everyone scrambled around the page of a Newspaper just to see their names. This is long gone.

The student’s login particular includes:

First Name
Surname
School Leaver Form (SLF) number

Upon successful login, a student can change the password to a more secure login password. It is perhaps important to personalize the password. In other words, choose a password that you can remember easily.

Grade 12 Online Selection System

Parents and students can access the Grade 12 online selection through this URL: apply.dherst.gov.pg. The data and information in the National Online Selection System (NOSS) were built from the Online School Leavers Forms.

In brief, DHERST facilitates the grade 12 online selections around the data supplied to the department from

1) the schools (though online SLF submissions) and

2) Exam results provided by the MSD/NDoE

The bulk of the work is spearheaded by MSD. This means that the raw data passes through the NDoE to DHERST for Grade 12 selection to tertiary institutions in the country.

20 New Schools with Grade 12 in 2019

The number of secondary schools in the country stands at 185 in 2019 from 166 schools in 2018. The number of Grade 12 producing schools increased by nearly 20 between 2018 and 2019. The 20 schools are either new schools with pioneer Grade 12 students or schools that have discontinued grade 11 classes in previous years.

For clarity, the pioneer Grade 12 refers to the schools graduating the first Grade 12 in 2019. Whereas, some established schools discontinued Grade 11 intake for one reason or another such as Aiyura National High School and schools in Hela province.

Notably, four (4) schools in Eastern Highland Province (EHP) have added to the number of 2019 Grade 12 students selected to tertiary institutions 2019.

Here is a list of 20 schools graduating either pioneer or new Grade 12 students. The list is arranged by province.

Grade 12 Five Year Stat 2015 – 2019

In 2018, the number of Grade 12 students who accessed their online results was 28,582. In 2019, the total number of Grade 12 students in the country increased to 29,000.

Below is a pictorial representation of the increase in the number of schools (Figure 1) and the number of students (Figure 2) in PNG. (Note: the data is based on years of writer’s work and recent data available online).

Number of Secondary Schools in PNG

Within the last 5 years to 2019, the number of secondary schools had increased by 79.61%! That means that of the 185 school secondary schools at present, 82 of them were doing the Grade 11 selection since 2015.

Number of Grade 12 Students in PNG

Within the last 5 years to 2019, the number of Grade 12 students either taking the national examinations (or going through DHERST online selection) had increased by 25%!

This implies that there was an increase of 5,800 secondary school spaces between 2015 and 2019.

Discussion on Grade 12 exam results

The exponential increase in the overall number of secondary schools and the number of Grade 12 students present to all a question of sustainability.

How can the secondary school system be sustained to facilitate an education that is fit for the young people in Papua New Guinea?

The question is not an easy one to answer. It requires a holistic understanding of the burden placed on an ageing education system.

In hindsight, the National Department of Education and Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology have challenges dealing with the increasing number of students. The challenges vary in areas of operations and management, structural and reforms, and policy and planning.

The simple data presented in Figure 1 and Figure 2 indicated that many young people entered Grade 12. They have a Higher Secondary Education. It shows that in the last 5 years, there is a significant improvement in schooling places available to young people.

What is required (now more than ever) are vision, mission and hard work from all the education planners, education leaders, educationists and public servants.

Education is power. Every individual should be empowered to live a happy and meaningful life, whether they are truck drivers or pilots, cleaners or CEOs. etc.

Key point

If we look closely at Figure 2, we would realise that there is a whopping increase of 3000 students between 2017 and 2018. It begs the question of what happened there?!

Ominously, there was an increase of only 6 secondary schools between 2017 and 2018. Unlike the increase in 2018 and 2019 of nearly 20 secondary schools.

It seems secondary schools are mushrooming in the country. And, the principals had squeezed more students in 2017 into classrooms.

In particular, the later two years (2018 and 2019) showed that the principals have realised the strain the high number of Grade 11 students put on the schools. And, normalise (to some extent) the number of Grade 11 selected to their schools.

It would be interesting to compare these numbers at the end of 2020.

Finally, the online results and selections are the timely interventions the education departments (NDoE and DHERST) introduced in 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Grade 12 exam results

Online interventions are practical and sustainable measures to cater for a growing school population in the country.

The two departments need all the help they can get from the education planners and political leaders in the country now and into the future.

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