Supporting The Public Sector of Papua New Guinea

public-sector2

Education

There are 12 years of school education comprising six years of primary and six of secondary. Literacy among people aged 15–24 is 68 per cent (2010). Private schools in Papua New Guinea include the Ela Murray International School, which is overseen by the International Education Agency, a private not-for-profit company that manages 20 schools across the country.

There are four public universities: the University of Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby); Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Lae); University of Goroka (Goroka), which trains teachers; and University of Natural Resources and Environment (Kerevat, East New Britain), which trains people for agriculture and natural resource management. The longest-established private universities include one founded by the Roman Catholic Church, Divine Word University at Madang; and one by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pacific Adventist University at Boroko, Port Moresby. The National Polytechnic Institute at Lae is one of several tertiary institutions offering courses in technical and vocational education.

 

Health

Public spending on health was four per cent of GDP in 2012. There are state and church-run hospitals, dispensaries and clinics, with charges that are low and related to ability to pay. Private hospitals include the Paradise Private Hospital in Port Moresby, which was the country’s first such private facility when it opened in 1968. Infant mortality was 47 per 1,000 live births in 2013 (143 in 1960). In 2013, 0.7 per cent of people aged 15–49 were HIV positive.

 

Transport

Construction of roads is hampered by the rugged mountainous environment – the total national road network extends to 19,600 km, 3.5 per cent of which are paved. Port Moresby is perhaps the only capital city that is not linked by road with the rest of the country. Privately owned buses called public motor vehicles run in most cities. There is no railway.

Ports: Principal ports are Alotau (on the southern tip of New Guinea), Port Moresby (on the south coast), and Lae, Madang and Wewak (on the north coast), Rabaul (in New Britain), Kieta (Bougainville) and Momote (Manus Island). As there are relatively few roads, river transport is important, for both freight and passengers, and particularly on the River Sepik.

Airports: The international airport is Port Moresby at Jackson Field, 11 km from the city. Domestic air services run to all centres of population and industry.