Hela Province, 24 October 2025 — The government of Hela Province has unveiled a major initiative aimed at improving the quality of education across the region, placing a dual emphasis on infrastructure and future-ready skills.
Speaking at the opening of three new staff houses for the Pai Hope Institute in the Tari Pori District, Governor Philip Undialu reiterated that education remains a top priority for his administration. Under his leadership, the provincial government is advancing plans to expand primary and secondary schooling as well as technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs, NBC News reports.
Key elements of the plan include the construction of 50 “four-in-one” multipurpose classroom blocks which will incorporate computer laboratories, science labs, and dedicated workshops for TVET. Governor Undialu described this move as essential for fostering digital literacy and hands-on learning across disciplines.
In addition to infrastructure, the program will focus on standardizing school uniforms, ensuring that students across the province can attend school free from distractions caused by inconsistent attire.
Governor Undialu outlined his vision for the next four to five years: he aims to transform Hela Province into a model of quality education, where students are taught by skilled teachers using a curriculum designed to prepare them for future challenges.
This initiative places Hela among the regions in Papua New Guinea setting bold targets not only for infrastructure but also for strengthening links between education and employment-relevant skills. The focus on facility upgrades—including libraries, computer labs, e-library programs, science laboratories and vocational workshops—signals a shift towards more practical and technology-enabled learning.
As the province embarks on this ambitious plan, the challenges ahead include recruiting and retaining qualified teachers, ensuring ongoing maintenance of new facilities, and aligning curricula with evolving workforce needs. If successfully implemented, this move could significantly raise educational outcomes and employment prospects for students in Hela.
The staff-housing project and workshop construction serve as early indicators of the provincial government’s commitment. The next phases of the rollout will likely draw attention from both educators and policy-makers across Papua New Guinea, as they watch Hela’s progress toward becoming a benchmark for educational reform.