Languages in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea has more than 850 languages, so access to learning depends strongly on location, school availability, community practice and the language used locally. The Constitution sets a national goal of universal literacy in Pisin, Hiri Motu or English, together with local languages such as tok ples or ita eda tano gado, but it does not create an individually enforceable guarantee of a language course. In elementary education, English is taught as a second language under the Elementary English Syllabus, generally for at least one hour per day over three years. Home or local languages can provide a bridge, and the Language Syllabus supports local reading and writing as well as cultural continuity. In urban areas, or where an approved writing system for the local language is unavailable, schools may use the English syllabus. Formal access usually follows the regular school system and therefore varies with the location of a school place. The National Department of Education and its Curriculum Development Division develop and support curricula, while the Measurement Services Division manages national assessment arrangements. English is compulsory and examinable in the Grade 8, Grade 10 and Grade 12 examination system. Examination dates change by year; in the 2025 calendar, Grade 10 English Language papers were scheduled for 20 and 23 October. Flexible Open Distance Education, known as FODE, provides Grade 7 to Grade 12 study through self-study materials, assignments and examinations. It has 22 provincial centres as well as study, district and local-level government centres. Applicants take an English and Mathematics entry test, and the published entry-test fee is K50. FODE can serve school leavers, adults, employed or unemployed learners and people with disabilities, although additional fees and a standard completion period were not verified. Digital learning materials and official Department of Education e-learning resources can support study, but Papua New Guinea has no verified national language-learning app, online-course or certificate system. Non-formal literacy follows the National Literacy Policy for out-of-school children, young people and adults. The National Literacy and Awareness Council provides leadership, while the National Literacy and Awareness Secretariat coordinates monitoring, networks and partnerships with non-governmental, community and faith-based organisations. Current providers and regional coverage vary, and no complete national course register has been verified. There is also no single national proficiency framework comparable to the Common European Framework of Reference for Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu or local languages. University-level study is available through the University of Papua New Guinea. Its Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Modern Languages includes Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu, Japanese, Bahasa Indonesia and French, and the university also offers a Diploma in Language and Communication with 16 prescribed courses. Academic admission is competitive, while current fees and application dates require confirmation from the university. For everyday and working life, English and Tok Pisin generally have the widest learning value, Hiri Motu has stronger regional value, and a local language may be the most useful choice for a particular community. Foreign-language study is more specialised and usually has a narrower practical purpose. There is no general obligation to learn a foreign language; access, cost, duration and assessment depend on the selected programme or provider.