Too many education-related policies collecting dust says Papua New Guinea forum

A policy advocacy forum held in Port Moresby last week announced that there are too many education-related policies collecting dust on the shelves (The National newspaper in Papua New Guinea).

The NGO, PNG Education Advocacy Network, organized a one-day forum last week that brought government, the private sector, other education NGOs, and partners together with the aim of charting the course for Papua New Guinea to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for education before 2015.

The network's role is to discuss policies and gaps that are lacking or not yet inclusive in the overarching Universal Basic Education policy in order to prompt the incoming government (after the election concludes on July 6) to ensure education for all.

There are six focus areas for education: (1) early childhood care and education, (2) primary education for all, (3) continuing education and life skills, (4) literacy, (5) gender equality, and (6) quality education.

Among the policies not yet implemented, said the forum, was the early childhood care and education policy launched in 2007 by the Department of Community Development. The reasons for the delayed implementation include: (1) lack of funding from the government education budget to support implementation, and (2) limited capacity within the community development units. Therefore the forum maintains that the early childhood care and education policy is due for review.

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