Nabilah S
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, James Marape, met with senior World Bank officials on Tuesday to discuss major development initiatives aimed at fostering economic growth, reforming the education sector, and driving social transformation. During the meeting, Marape reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that investments in key areas such as education, infrastructure, and economic stability contribute to the nation’s long-term prosperity. He emphasized the strong partnership between Papua New Guinea and the World Bank, highlighting their shared dedication to advancing economic progress, education reform, and national development.
The discussions brought together key World Bank representatives, including Stephen Ndegwa, Country Director for PNG and the Pacific Islands; Khwima Nthara, PNG Country Manager; and Lars Sondergaard, Lead Economist for Education in East Asia and the Pacific. The meeting centered around two major initiatives: the New Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 2025-2031 and the Learning Enhancement and Access Project. The CPF outlines priority areas for collaboration between Papua New Guinea and the World Bank over the next six years, targeting critical economic and infrastructural challenges. It focuses on four key outcomes: increasing private investment to create better job opportunities, improving infrastructure connectivity to link communities to essential services, strengthening human capital through enhanced health and education systems, and reinforcing macroeconomic management and institutional governance.
A major aspect of the meeting was dedicated to education reform, particularly through the Learning Enhancement and Access Project. Spearheaded by the Education Department, this initiative seeks to improve access to quality education, particularly in rural areas, while addressing gaps in literacy, numeracy, and teacher capacity. Prime Minister Marape reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritizing educators, pledging to make teachers among the highest-paid public servants in the country. This initiative aims to attract and retain top teaching talent, a crucial step given that over 70% of primary students currently struggle with basic literacy and numeracy skills. The project also focuses on strengthening curriculum development, enhancing teacher training programs, and expanding educational infrastructure to ensure greater access to schools.
