World Bank Launches Landmark US$100M Education Project in Papua New Guinea

The World Bank announced a historic US$100 million investment in education for Papua New Guinea (PNG) on May 30, 2025, through the Learning Enhancement and Access Project (LEAP). Financed by the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA), this project is one of the largest education investments in PNG's history and aims to benefit over 375,000 children in some of the most underserved communities, along with supporting 9,000 teachers in 3,500 schools across eight provinces. 

The project will focus on improving classrooms, providing better teaching materials, strengthening school management, and significantly enhancing teacher quality through structured daily lesson plans, continuous training, and diploma-level qualifications, with over US$80 million specifically dedicated to improving teaching practices. This strategic emphasis on foundational learning in early grades (preparatory to grade 2) and teacher capability reflects an understanding that tackling PNG's high learning poverty, where an estimated 72% of 10-year-olds cannot read or understand age-appropriate texts, requires robust early interventions. Furthermore, LEAP adopts a holistic approach by aiming to directly address gender-based violence and fragile service delivery, promoting inclusive and safe learning environments, especially for girls and children in conflict-affected areas. 

The project also includes plans to establish 200 secondary schools as education hubs equipped with internet access and digital tools to support nearby schools, a pragmatic model to leverage technology for broader impact in a geographically challenging country.  

Source: World Bank