In Papua New Guinea, early childhood education remains one of the most critical yet under-resourced sectors, especially in remote and rural areas. At the recent CANCONEX conference held at APEC Haus, Port Moresby, Alicia Sion, Program Manager for Community Development at the Santos Foundation, highlighted the transformative impact of the Foundation’s Literacy Library Programme — a targeted intervention aimed at children aged three to six in some of the country’s most isolated communities.
Operating since 2016 in the Southern Highlands (Pimaga), Gulf (Kikori), and Hela (Habare) provinces, the programme addresses a fundamental developmental bottleneck: access to early learning resources and foundational literacy skills. These remote regions face significant geographic and infrastructural challenges that limit formal schooling access, with many children entering primary education ill-prepared, undermining long-term educational outcomes.
Sion underscored that the Literacy Library Programme serves as a crucial bridge between home environments and formal schooling, aligning with the National Department of Education’s “166 system,” PNG’s framework for early education. By providing age-appropriate learning materials and community-based libraries, the programme fosters cognitive and social development critical for school readiness.
Kikori, where the initiative has been active for nearly a decade, offers a compelling example of community ownership and sustained impact—key indicators of program success in a development landscape often marred by short-term donor interventions and fragile institutional support.
The collaboration between the Santos Foundation, which funds and oversees the initiative, and the implementing partner Buk bilong ol pikinini, responsible for curriculum, training, and quality assurance, illustrates an effective public-private-community partnership model. This model leverages technical expertise and local engagement, ensuring responsiveness to community needs and cultural contexts.
The Literacy Library Programme exemplifies how targeted, place-based education initiatives can contribute to breaking the cycle of educational disadvantage in PNG’s diverse and challenging environments. Its emphasis on early childhood learning not only improves individual outcomes but also lays a foundation for broader social and economic development—critical for a nation still grappling with uneven access and quality in its education system.
As PNG approaches key milestones in national development, sustained investment in early education programs like this will be vital to realising the country’s long-term human capital potential.