More Papua New Guinean families are choosing to send their children to schools overseas.
Evidently, a few institutions from Australia were in Port Moresby recently to promote their schools to the PNG community. This was during the two-day (July 20-21) PNG Industrial & Mining Resources Exhibition at the Sir John Guise Indoor Stadium, Port Morebsy.
Luke Baill, the head of junior high at the Cathedral School in Townsville, North Queensland, confirmed about 15 Papua New Guinean students in total were studying with them.
The Christian school caters for six weeks babies all the way to year 12, with boarding facilities for both boys and girls from year 7 and upwards.
"We also have, particularly within our junior school, a number of Papua New Guinean families who send their children over to Townsville to stay with relatives and then send their children over to our school, which we think is amazing," he said.
"The cultural addition that they add to our school is worthwhile and we love having them as part of our community
"And we also have a number of children, grades 7 and 12 in the boarding house, who also reside over here in PNG
"So we've had a long relationship with PNG over the years," Baill told Loop PNG.
The Cathedral's participation at the expo is to grow its PNG contingent of students.
It was also Baills first time in PNG.
"It's a lovely part of the world," he said.
(Head of junior high at the Cathedral School in Townsville, North Queensland, Luke Baill, speaking to members of the public during the two-day expo in Port Moresby.)