Papua New Guinea, Australia and UNICEF launch $33 million partnership to strengthen schools and boost learning

PORT MORESBY, 4 March 2026 – The Government of Papua New Guinea, the Government of Australia and UNICEF today launched the Smarter Safer Schools (3S) Programme, a major national partnership to strengthen education reform, improve school safety and boost foundational learning in 600 schools across six subnational locations.

Education is central to Papua New Guinea’s long-term development and economic prosperity. When children do not acquire foundational literacy and numeracy skills, it limits future employment opportunities, weakens productivity and slows national growth. By investing in stronger schools and more effective education systems, Papua New Guinea is investing in a more skilled, resilient and competitive workforce for the future.

The 3S programme is a four year, AUD33 million Australian Government investment, supporting implementation of Papua New Guinea’s 1-6-6 education reform by strengthening school leadership, improving teacher capacity, expanding access to digital learning, integrating climate resilience and child protection into school planning, and reinforcing inspection and data systems to improve accountability and performance across the education sector.

“The 1-6-6 reform is designed to improve quality, access and equity across our education system. The Smarter Safer Schools Programme strengthens the foundations that make reform successful,” said Dr Uke Kombra, Secretary for Education. “Education is not only a social priority; it is a national development priority. By improving learning outcomes, we are investing in Papua New Guinea’s future workforce and economic growth.”

The 3S programme is a new addition to Australia’s longstanding partnership with Papua New Guinea in education. Valued at AUD83 million in 2024-25, Australia’s investments in early grade learning, teacher development and system strengthening are aligned with PNG’s National Education Plan 2020-29 and have supported improvements in access, retention and foundational learning. 

“The Smarter Safer Schools programme, announced at the October 2025 Australia–PNG Ministerial Forum, is a practical demonstration of the priority our two governments place on safe, resilient, high-quality schooling for every child in PNG,” said Madeleine Moss, Minister-Counsellor, Subnational, Governance and Human Capital at the Australian High Commission. “Investing in quality education is critical for Papua New Guinea’s
development – and the Smarter Safer Schools programme supports interventions that will contribute to a safe, healthy and innovative learning environment. “

The 3S Programme will support 600 schools in developing and implementing School Learning Improvement Plans integrating disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and child protection measures. It will train teachers and school leaders to strengthen foundational learning aligned with the 1-6-6 curriculum, expand access to digital learning solutions, and reinforce inspection and monitoring systems to drive continuous improvement.

“Every child has the right to quality education. Realising that right requires strong policies, capable institutions and sustained investment in the systems that support teachers and schools,” said Vikas Singh, Acting Representative of UNICEF Papua New Guinea. “The Smarter Safer Schools Programme focuses on practical system strengthening so that reforms translate into real learning gains and lay the foundations
for long-term national development.”

The 3S programme will be implemented in Central, Morobe, Western Highlands, East Sepik, East New Britain and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.