2024 Academic Year

There will be less interaction with teachers, and teachers will also have to work long hours to prepare lessons or mark papers.

The principal of the Malahang Technical Secondary School in Lae outlined these challenges as he struggles with the influx of Grade Nine students.

The Malahang Technical Secondary School in Lae, with a capacity of 200 Grade Nine students, has now registered 360 new students; with more parents and guardians lining up outside their administration to push their children in.

Lae, in Morobe Province, is currently experiencing what has been described as an “over-selection of Grade Nine students”.

With an improved performance of hundreds of Grade Eight students in their 2023 national examinations, secondary schools in Lae are now unable to cater for the large number of Grade Nine intakes.

With hundreds of Grade Eight students performing well in their 2023 national examinations, secondary schools in Lae are now unable to fit them all in.

The top schools of Bugandi, Lae Secondary and Busu are turning students and their parents and guardians away due to limited space.

14-year-old Sandra William was initially selected from Omili Primary School to continue her Grade Nine at the Lae Secondary School.

Minister for DHERST, Don Polye apart from his announcement of bringing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the PNG education, confirmed international engagement, application of HELP, and the research budget enhancement for 2024.

Minister Polye emphasized that this year, DHERST will remain steadfast in its collaboration with the Government of Australia and the People's Republic of China.

Principal George Kenega, emphasized revealed this saying the aim for this year is to make sure students as well as teachers meet their schedules and attend classes faithfully. 

“Well this morning my message to the students is 2024 being our year. We want results, academic results. Grade nines, don’t wait, start now and get your priorities right. Grade tens and twelves, they are the ones that will be carrying our flag. I told them I will be personally checking on what they are doing every day, to see if teachers are teaching and students learning. 

Loop PNG visited several schools in the National Capital District today and saw schools still conducting registrations and trying to cater for the increasing number of transfer in students.

For Gordon Secondary School (GSS), parents flocked to the school gates as early as 7am to check for space availability for student transfers.
 
Principal of Gordon Secondary School, George Kenega, who has been there for 10 years says classes are packed and the school will not accept transfer in students.

A first-quarter allocation of K214m is anticipated to be disbursed this month, just before the commencement of classes.

The announcement comes after an extensive meeting with Education Secretary, Dr. Uke Kombra, on the outcomes of the Department of Education in 2023 and priorities set for 2024.

The funding assistance of K856.686m is an increase of K88.846m from the K767.84m allocated in 2023.

Prime Minister James Marape in acknowledging these concerns said his government has plans to address this issue, something that’s faced year in, year out.

The Prime Minister in a media conference after the public service dedication service yesterday at the Sir John Guise Stadium stated plans to overcome the issue of spaces for students in higher education institutions.