Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa has sought clarification from the Government on whether Grade 8 and Grade 10 students in five provinces selected for Papua New Guinea’s education reform pilot program will sit national examinations this year.
Raising a question without notice during Parliament’s Question Time yesterday, Governor Rapa said uncertainty remained among students, parents, teachers and school administrators despite the Government’s earlier announcement that Grade 8 and Grade 10 national examinations would be phased out under the new education reform.
Related news: https://news.pngfacts.com/2026/06/png-education-reform-sparks-uncertainty.html
He asked the Government to confirm whether students in the five pilot provinces, including Western Highlands, would sit the examinations in 2026 and whether formal directives had been issued to schools and provincial education authorities.
Governor Rapa noted that Western Highlands was among the provinces chosen to implement the reform and said stakeholders were seeking clear guidance as the academic year progressed.
He said uncertainty over the examination arrangements had created concern among students, parents and educators who were awaiting official direction from the Education Department.
Responding to the question, acting Minister for Education and Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and Sports, Hon. Kinoka Feo, acknowledged the concerns raised by the Governor.
Mr. Feo said he was unable to provide an immediate response and would consult the relevant records before reporting back to Parliament.
“I thank the Governor of Western Highlands for the question. I cannot give an answer from the top of my head, so I will check and come back tomorrow,” he said.