PNG Public Holidays, School Exams, Term Holidays and Cultural Shows 2024

The dates may change but here are the Public Holidays, School Exams, Term Holidays and Cultural Shows as seen in the past years. You may have to confirm the PNG public holiday dates when the National Gazette 2024 comes out. 

Check out the 2024 Gazetted Public Holiday PDF file here and download it!

As for the Terms holiday, check out the Department of Education website or this post for the latest term holidays and examination dates.

For cultural shows and events in Papua New Guinea, please visit the organisers' website, and Facebook pages or contact them directly if you are planning a trip.

PNG Public Holidays, School Term Holidays and Cultural Show Dates

Public Holidays in PNG

• New Year's Day 1 January
• Good Friday 19 April
• Easter 21 April
• Queen's Birthday 10 June
• National Remembrance Day 23 July
• Repentance Day 26 August
• Independence Day 16 September
• Christmas Day 25 December
• Boxing Day December 26 December

Papua New Guinea School Holidays

Here are the term months and holidays to take note of. Refer to the Department of Education website or check this article for the latest updates on term dates and holidays

       School Holidays   Month      Duration

• Term 1 Holiday     April         1 week
• Term 2 Holiday  July          2 weeks
• Term 3 Holiday     Sep          1 week)
• Term 4 Holiday     Dec          Christmas Holiday

PNG National Examinations

The national examinations in Papua New Guinea fall in the following months:

EXAMINATION                                    MONTH

• Grade 10 Written Expression Exam   June
• Grade 12 Written Expression Exam   August
• Grade 10 Major Examinations           October
• Grade 12 Major Examinations           October
• Grade 8 Examination                         October

The school year ends early in December 2024

PNG Cultural Shows and Dates

        SHOWS & FESTIVALS                  MONTH

• Tumbuna Festival Tour                     May
• Mask Festival, East New Britain      July
• Crocodile Festival, Sepik Region     August
• Mount Hagen Festival/Show            August
• Kalam Festival, Simbai                    September
• Goroka Show                                   September
• Kutubu Kundu & Digaso Festival     September
• Morobe Show                                  October
• Huhu War Canoe Festival               October
• Kenu & Kundu Festival                    November
• Karimui Show                                   November

Public Holidays, School Exams, Term Holidays and Cultural Shows 2024

If you are planning to visit the cultural event in the provinces, check with the local tour operators and guide before booking your trips.

You can check the latest examination dates and school term dates at the PNG education department's website. The private school terms are different, so check with your local schools to confirm the dates. 

Grade 12 National Examination Dates - Mobile Phones Banned During Examination Period and Other Exam Guides

August and September are the busiest months for Grade 12 students and their teachers. The students are revising for exams.

The teachers are conducting remedial lessons and school administrators are contemplating how many students they are likely to send to tertiary institutions. 

PNG Schools Exams in October 2023

Exams kickoff in October - see the exam dates here. The secondary schools who have been preparing their students all year long would be anticipating the exams. 

The schools having elections-related problems this year would be dreading the exams. One thing for sure is that the exams are coming and you've got about three weeks to prepare. 

The Grade 12 Examinations will take place over 5 days.

Ban mobile phones during exam periods

The education department, in recent years, had advised provincial education authorities and school administrators to ban mobile phones during exam periods. The advisory directives from the department include:

• Penalty for  exam cheating or assisting to cheat - non certification
• Teacher not allowed to view/access exam papers
• Mobile phones banned from exam rooms
• Principals and Deputy Principals must physically stay in school during the examination hours

Do you think PNG Govt and Education department should remove exams at Grade 8? Take a look at this article and let us know what you think.