Overview
Papua New Guinea is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, located between Australia and Indonesia, and is the second largest island in the world. A large land area and large population of over four million people represent hundreds of different ethnic and tribal groups. Since 1997, the Papua New Guinea government is a constitutional parliamentary democracy.
The language of instruction is English, although 820 indigenous languages are spoken.
Education
Primary and Secondary Education
Elementary education takes place in 8 years, ending with the award of the Certificate of Basic Education.
Secondary education is divided into lower secondary (2 years) and upper secondary (2 years). Lower secondary school ends with the award of the Secondary School Certificate. Upper secondary school ends with the award of the Higher School Certificate. There are technical colleges that provide the 2 years of upper secondary school, ending with the award of the Technical Training Certificate (TTC).
Post-Secondary Education
Higher education is mainly provided by universities and specialized institutions of higher education. The Commission for Higher Education is responsible for coordinating higher education. There are a wide variety of technical and vocational institutions, with curriculums in nursing, medical technology, agriculture, forestry, police and corrections, and business.
The academic year is from February to November. The language of instruction is English.
First Cycle
Certificates and Diplomas are awarded after studies lasting between two and three years. The Bachelor’s Degree is a four year program with an additional year for Honours. Some degree courses start as two-year Diploma courses followed by a further two years for a degree. Degree courses in Law and Medicine last for five years.
Second Cycle
The Master’s Degree is conferred after studies lasting between one and three years beyond the Bachelor’s Degree. Candidates must submit a thesis. Candidates for the Master’s Degree in Education must have obtained an appropriate Bachelor’s Degree, completed one year of graduate work and have two years of experience in teaching or other educational work. Initial preliminary studies and the qualifying examination may be waived for candidates with Honours Degrees.
Third Cycle
The Doctor of Philosophy is conferred after a minimum of three years of study for candidates who hold a Master’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree after an additional minimum preliminary training period. Candidates must submit a thesis.
Teacher Training
Primary school teachers train at primary school teacher training colleges for 3 years. Candidates must now have completed grade 12. The program for secondary teachers lasts for four years, leading to the Bachelor of Education degree. They can also obtain a Postgraduate Diploma in Education after a total of five years of study.
