GRADE 8 AND GRADE 10 EXAMS WILL REMAIN; DROP OUT SYTEM TO END

THE PNG Education Minister, Lucas Dekena, has announced that Grade 8 and 10 examinations will continue to be part of the education system to ensure all students have the opportunity to progress to Grade 12.

This shift aims to end the dropout system in both Grade 8 and Grade 10.

Minister Dekena explained that the current system produces too many dropouts at an early age, leaving young students without adequate skills or qualifications.

Under the revised approach, exams will now focus on measuring student learning progress and evaluating teacher performance, rather than acting as a barrier to higher grades.

He emphasized that forcing students to leave school after Grade 8 or 10 is unfair, given their young age.

With this change, all students will now have the chance to complete Grade 12, where their final exams will determine their next steps, such as tertiary education, colleges, technical institutions, or vocational training pathways.

The Minister also addressed the challenges this reform may bring, particularly regarding the lack of classrooms and teacher housing. These infrastructure issues have been longstanding, and their resolution is critical for the successful implementation of the new policy.

To tackle these challenges, the government is coordinating efforts across all levels. Provincial Governments have been tasked with allocating K2 million each to fund classrooms and teacher housing.

This reform represents a major milestone in PNG’s education system, as it eliminates exam-based dropouts and ensures students have access to diverse opportunities after completing Grade 12.