Top performing secondary schools in PNG 2023

Here are lists of top schools in Papua New Guinea in 2023. St Charles Lwanga and Paglum Secondary Schools are the best in their grades. Private schools like Paradise College, Goroka Grammar, and Hagi International are also doing well. The Department of Education announced the ranks on the 8th of December 2023 during the release of the Grade 10 and Grade 12 exam results.

Check out PNG Insight on YouTube for information on Grade 10 & 12 Selections - click here

Top 10 Govt and Agency Schools, Grade 10: Top performing secondary and high schools 2023

• 10. De La Salle Secondary School (NCD)
• 9. Gordon Secondary School (NCD)
• 8. St Joseph Tari Secondary School (Hela)
• 7. Mercy Secondary Secondary School (ESP)
• 6. Kama SDA Primary & Junior High School (EHP)
• 5. Pidipai Secondary School (Enga)
• 4. Cameron Secondary School (Milne Bay)
• 3. Mt Hagen Secondary School (WHP)
• 2. Marianville Secondary School (NCD)
• 1. St Charles Lwanga Secondary School (NCD)

Top 10 Private Schools, Grade 10: Top performing secondary and high schools 2023

• 10. Goroka Grammar International School (EHP)
• 9. Hagi  International School (WNBP)
• 8. Lae Christian Academy (Morobe)
• 7. Pom Grammar (NCD)
• 6. Lihir International School (New Ireland)
• 5. Kokop College (NCD)
• 4. Kimbe International School (WNBP)
• 3. OLSH International School (New Ireland)
• 2. St Joseph International College (NCD)
• 1. Paradise College (NCD)

Top 10 Govt and Agency Schools, Grade 12: Top performing secondary schools in PNG 2023

• 10. Goroka Secondary School (EHP)
• 9. St Gabriel's Secondary School (Western/North Fly)
• 8. Marianville Secondary School (NCD)
• 7. Lihir Secondary School (New Ireland)
• 6. Cameron Secondary School (Milne Bay)
• 5. St Ignatius Secondary School (Sandaun)
• 4. Busu Secondary School (Morobe)
• 3. St Charles Secondary School (NCD)
• 2. Mt Hagen Secondary School (WHP)
• 1. Paglum Adventist Secondary School (WHP)

Top 10, Private Schools: Top performing secondary schools in PNG 2023

• 10. OLSH Vunapope Secondary School (ENBP)
• 9. Nonu Institute Private School (NCD)
• 8. Sacred Heart (Vunapope) International (ENBP)
• 7. Goroka Grammar (EHP)
• 6. Pom Grammar (NCD)
• 5. Highlands Lutheran International School (Enga)
• 4. OLSH International (New Ireland)
• 3. St Joseph International Catholic College (NCD)
• 2. Hagi  International School (WNBP)
• 1. Paradise College (NCD)

The compilation of the top-performing schools from 2019 to 2022 is available here. Check to see which schools have been performing consistently in the Grade 10 and Grade 12 exams.

Surging Secondary School Enrollments Demands TVET Expansion

A surge in secondary school enrollments across the country prompts a pressing need for tertiary institutions and higher education (HEI) spaces to expand their capacity to meet this growing demand. 

This year alone, over 249,000 secondary and primary school (Grade 8, 10 and 12) students were taking the annual national examinations, showing the increasing number of students pursuing further education.

Stats That Matter

In a press conference just before the national examinations (01/08/2023), Secretary of Education Dr. Uke Kombra stated that approximately 249,189 students would be sitting for their exams nationwide. 

This includes a significant number of:

• Grade 10 students (76,571) from 448 Lower Secondary Schools, 
• Grade 12 students (31,252) from 221 Upper Secondary Schools and National Schools of Excellence (NSOA), and 
• Grade 8 students (141,366) from 3,538 Primary schools. 

Notably, a separate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) exam will be administered to 324 Grade 12 students at the National School of Excellence.

Here is data from previous years showing the number of Grade 12 students transiting through the Department of Higher Education (DHERST) national online selection system (NOAS).

Remarkable increase in the number of students

A comparison with last year reveals a remarkable increase in the number of students taking national examinations. 

In 2022, approximately:

• 71,000 Grade 10 students from 413 high schools and secondary schools, 
• 31,000 Grade 12 students from 218 secondary schools and NSOA, and 
• 125,000 Grade 8 students from 3,433 primary schools participated in the same examinations.

The government must urgently address the huge demand for higher education in Papua New Guinea. With intervention, the country will see a lot of students staying in school and becoming unemployed.

TVET Expansion: Target Grades 8, 10 & 12

The increasing number of secondary school students calls for a significant expansion of tertiary institutions and higher education facilities to meet the rising demand. 

To equip students with the skills and knowledge needed for the job market and prepare them for success in their communities, the TVET sector needs to be expanded rapidly. 

Provincial governors and education funds from MPs' DSIP and PSIP should be directed towards these initiatives.

Final words

More students are taking national exams this year (2023) than last year (2022). This is because more students are enrolled in secondary school. There are now more students taking exams in Grade 10, Grade 12, and Grade 8. 

To meet the growing demand for higher education, the government should expand tertiary education infrastructure, especially focusing on TVET programs.