Powered by
PNG Facts
  • Home
  • News
  • Business News
  • Economy News
  • PNG Politics
  • Sports News
  • International News
  • Corruption News
    • Expose Corruption in Papua New Guinea
    • Expose Police Brutality in PNG
    • Gender Based Violence in PNG
    • Kramer Report
  • Mining Watch
    • PNG Kumuls Videos
    • List of Mines in PNG
  • Jobs
    • Jobs in PNG
    • Jobs in PNG
    • Seasonal Employment Overseas
    • Applying for Jobs and Employments in Papua New Guinea
  • Education News
  • Scholarships
  • Health News
  • Bzzmart Online Shopping Platform
  • Pacific
  • Used Cars
    • Used Cars for sale in PNG
  • Buy or Rent Homes
  • Travel
    • City of Port Moresby
    • Adventure and Destination
    • Hotels & Lodges in PNG
    • Hotels & Lodges in Mendi, Southern Highlands Province
    • Hotels & Lodges in Lorengau, Manus Province
    • Hotels in Oro Province
    • Hotels and Lodges in ESP
    • Hotels & Lodges in Kavieng
    • Hotels and lodges in Kimbe
    • PNG Photo Gallery
    • Map of Papua New Guinea
  • PNG
    • Government >
      • PNG National Anthem and Pledge
      • Overview
      • PNG Overseas Missions
      • Office of the PNG Prime Minister >
        • Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea
      • Papua New Guinea Parliament
      • Provinces in Papua New Guinea >
        • PNG Provincial Goverments
        • Southern Highlands Province
        • West Sepik Provice
      • PNG Government Overseas engagement >
        • List of PNG Parliament Members 2017 - 2022
      • Office of the Papua New Guinea Opposition
      • Politics >
        • PNG Political Parties & Members
        • Papua New Guinea Cabinet Ministers
      • Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary >
        • PNG Police Recruitments and Applications
    • PNG's Famous People
    • PNG Education System >
      • Overview
      • Education Reform in PNG
      • Study Abroad
      • Universities in Papua New Guinea >
        • University of Papua New Guinea
        • University of Technology PNG
        • Divine Word University
        • University of Goroka
        • Pacific Adventist University
        • University of Natural Resources and Science - PNG
      • Institutions in PNG >
        • Teachers Colleges in Papua New Guinea
      • Research Papers in PNG
    • PNG Economy >
      • PNG EconomyOverview
      • Banks in Papua New Guinea
      • List of Airlines in Papua New Guinea
      • Cost of living in Papua New Guinea
      • Doing Business in Papua New Guinea
    • Health
    • Pacific Jokes
    • Gospel Music
  • Computer Tech
    • Tech Help
    • Top Weebly designed Websites >
      • HOW TO RECOVER FILES WITH SHORT CUTS OR HIDDEN IN FLASH DRIVE OR EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE
      • How to remove Stubborn Computer Virus
      • Creating Login or Sign in Membership page in Weebly sites
      • How to auto insert Table of Content in Word
      • Top Weebly Website Examples and Portfolio
      • Weebly Membership Sign in feature available
    • Send Free SMS in PNG
    • Radio Stations
    • Television stations >
      • Kundu 2 Television Service of Papua New Guinea
  • PNG Information Directory
    • Business Names Registration
    • Registering a Company in PNG
    • Tour Operators in PNG
    • Festivals and Tourism in Papua New Guinea
    • Lae City , Papua New Guinea
    • Armoured Car Services in Papua New Guinea
    • Taxi Services in Port Moresby
  • Computer Resources
  • Classifieds
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Competition
  • Advertisement
    • Payments
  • Privacy Policy
  • SP PNG Hunters News
  • Weebly Forums
  • National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
  • Work Permits and VISAs in PNG : Guide
  • Seasonal Workers Program for PNG
  • List Your Business on PNGFacts.com
  • Twodot Business Solutions
  • Become a Sponsor
  • Mt Giluwe Lodge
  • Papua New Guinea Defence Force
    • PNG Defence Force Recruitment and Applications
  • Political parties in PNG
    • PNC Party
    • PANGU Party
    • National Alliance Party
    • United Labour Party ULP
    • People's Progress Party PPP
  • NID PNG
  • Employment VISA in PNG
  • Business VISA
  • Visitor VISA
  • Police Clearance in Solomon Islands
  • PNG Electoral Commission
  • PNG Election Results
  • PNG Kina Exchange Rate

West Sepik (Sandaun) Province

West Sepik Province West Sepik Provincial Flag
Sandaun (West Sepik) Province is located between latitudes 2°35’ and 5°30’ South of the Equator and longitude 141° E and 143° E. The Province is the third largest province in land size in Papua New Guinea,  covering an area of 36,616 square kilometres, which constitutes 7.7% of Papua New Guinea’s total land area. It  shares provincial borders with Manus, East Sepik, Southern Highlands and Western Provinces, as well as an  while international border with the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya to the west. It is the most north-westerly  province of Papua New Guinea and has a road link to Indonesia from the provincial capital, Vanimo.  The geography of the province ranges from coastal lowland at sea level to the highest mountain peak at 4015  meters. The coastal lowland varies from sandy beaches in the east to a rocky coastline towards the PNGIndonesian Border. There are pockets of swampy areas and several fast flowing rivers between Vanimo and  Aitape. The highland areas of the province are characterised by some of highest peaks in the country found in  the Star Mountains in Telefomin District, the Torricelli Range dividing Aitape, Lumi and Nuku areas, and the
Bewani Range separating Vanimo, Green River and Bewani areas. The difficult and harsh geography of the province has presented, and will continue to pose, major constraints  and challenges for socio-economic development of the province. The low development indicators in education,  health, economic activities and infrastructure development in the province have been as a result of such geographical conditions. 

  • About
  • Politics 
  • Economy 
  • Map
  • Education 
<
>
History
It is believed that first people migrated into the island of New Guinea through the north-west coast from Asia more than 40,000 years ago. The great variety of languages spoken in the province suggests that there were  many groups of people who migrated through the province. The Chinese and Malay Traders followed the
migration route hundreds of years later. Catholic (Divine Word) Missionaries followed in 1896 and built a mission station on Tumleo Island off the coast of Aitape and established the first school on Tumleo Island.
During the Second World War, the invading Japanese army took over Sandaun (West Sepik) Province in 1942. The Japanese army ran schools in Yakamul village in Aitape East Coast and other areas along the Aitape coast  and taught people to read and write in Japanese. The Allied Forces landed in Aitape on 22 April 1944 and
forced the Japanese army to surrender in 1945. After the war the Catholic (Franciscan) Missionaries started  new mission stations in the Aitape, Vanimo and inland areas of Lumi and Nuku and continued with the provision of education and health services.
The government administration of the province by the Australian Colonial Administration began after the Second  World War. The province during the colonial administration was part of the large Sepik administrative unit  administered from Aitape. Provincial government status was granted to the province on 4th December 1978, and the provincial capital was established as Vanimo. During this time the province was divided into six  administrative districts of Aitape, Nuku, Lumi, Vanimo, Amanab and Telefomin. That was purposely for postcolonial administration and supervision by kiaps of almost all activities in the districts. The passing of the new
Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local Level Government in July 1995 saw the change from six districts into four districts of Aitape/Lumi, Nuku, Telefomin and Vanimo/Green River Districts with 17 Local Level  Governments.
A significant milestone in the expansion of formal education services in the province was the  establishment of the junior high school on Seleo Island off the Aitape Coast by the Catholic   Mission. The school was later moved to Aitape and in 1997 became the first secondary school  (St. Ignatius Secondary School) in the province. Other schools started up when the Catholic  mission expanded its mission stations to Vanimo Coast and Aitape inland areas and further
inland into Lumi and Nuku areas. 
Demography
Sandaun is among 8 other provinces, which have populations between 150,000 to 200,000 in the 2000 National Census preliminary figures released in May 2001 by the National Statistical Office. The figures showed that  Sandaun has a total population of 185,790 people and are distributed as shown in Table 1.0 below.
The total provincial population comprised of 95,775 male and 90,015 female, with a ratio of 106 males to 100  females. The population density for the province is 5 persons per square kilometres with an average household  size of 5.5 persons. The average annual population growth rate since 1980 is 2.4%. From the total provincial  population, Aitape/Lumi has the highest population at 29%.
There may be more than 80 ethnic and cultural groupings in Sandaun Province given that there are 86 different  languages spoken throughout the province. There are marked ethnic differences between the coastal and  mountain people resulting from the diversity in geography from the rugged mountainous regions to coastal
regions. The features of the people are characteristic of the general features of highlands and coastal people of Papua New Guinea. For example, the Telefomin people who live up in the cooler highlands region have similar  features, cultures and practices to that of the PNG Highlanders to the south and the Wamena people of the Indonesian Province of West Papua to the west. The hinterland people between the mountain ranges and the coastal plains exhibit similar features to those of the hinterland people of other parts of PNG and those on the coast have the features of islanders or Papuans. The diversity of ethnic and cultural groupings poses enormous challenges for the provision of education services throughout the province. These challenges includes the writing of the orthographies for elementary
education, the different approaches to mobilising community support for the establishment and care of educational infrastructure and facilities, and the acceptance of introduced school curriculum. 
The province is divided into four districts of Aitape-Lumi, Nuku, Telefomin and Vanimo/Green. The districts are  further divided into 16 Rural Local Level Governments (LLGs); one Urban LLG of Vanimo; 320 Wards and 832  Villages

The Provincial Governor holds the chairmanship of the Provincial Assembly; the Provincial Executive Council  (PEC) and the Joint Provincial Planning & Budget Priorities Committee (JPPBPC). All seventeen Presidents of  the LLGs, one nominated Women Representative and the five Members of Parliament make up the Provincial
Assembly, whilst the PEC and JPP&BPC are comprised of appointed members from the Assembly. The PEC  makes major decisions to govern the province and endorses Bills for enacting in the Provincial Assembly. The  four districts are governed by the Joint District Planning & Budget Priorities Committee (JDP&BPC) where the chairperson of this Committee is the open Member of Parliament and the committee members are the LLG  Presidents and other appointed members from the district community. The four JDP&BPCs are responsible for  development decisions for the district.
The Provincial Government is supported by the Provincial Administration with the current total staff ceiling of 428 (approved by Personnel Management in 2000) comprising of 99 positions at the provincial headquarters in  Vanimo and 329 positions distributed among the 4 districts and the 17 LLGs throughout the province.
Provincial Education Services are represented by a political head known as the Chairman of Education Services  who is a member to PEC (the equivalent of the National Education Minister in the NEC) and the Education  Division which is one of the nine (9) administrative divisions in the provincial administration. The Division is
headed by the Provincial Education Advisor reporting through the Deputy Provincial Administrator, Policy and  Advisory Services, to the Provincial Administrator and through the Provincial Management Team (PMT), the  executive arm of the provincial administration. The Provincial Division of Education is also responsible to the
PEB. The Division has 8 staff in headquarters and a team of up to 4 staff in each district including the District  Education Manager. The provincial and district staff are required to provide technical and administrative support  to schools’ Boards of Management or Boards of Governors as well as to the Provincial Administration.
The population is largely rural based, with about 92% living in rural areas and 8% in urban areas. The provincial  economy is largely a subsistence economy. The Province is blessed with natural resources such as gold,  copper, oil, timber and marine resources which have potential to drive the future economy of the province. The  discovery of these natural resources has attracted major overseas interest, and development of these resources  has high investment potential which would contribute significantly to the long-term development of the Provincial  economy.
Apart from the natural resources, the Province has high potential for major agricultural development in the main  cash crops of cocoa, coffee, vanilla, rubber, oil palm, rice and copra. The potential for the development of these  crops are mostly in Aitape, Lumi and Nuku areas with some potential for Vanimo area particularly the oil palm  development in the Bewani area and vegetable supply in the Telefomin district.
Vanimo has benefited economically for about the last 20 years from the cash generated in the area by the  presence of a major logging operation in the area. There will continue to be cash in the area due to recent  expansion of logging operations into the Amanab area. The logging operation has invested into retail and
wholesale activities which contributed to cash-flow in the area. Aitape is presently experiencing cash-generation  due to logging operations. These also have retail and wholesale activities which are contributing to the local  economy. There is still great potential for the logging industry to contribute towards the growth of the provincial economy.
Although there is high potential for future income-generation in the Province given the abundant natural  resources, the current scarcity of income-generating activities is creating major burdens for the largely  subsistence families and communities in meeting the cost of education. The payment of school fees, especially
at the secondary school level is extremely difficult for many subsistence farmers. The situation relating to the ability of the provincial economy to support the provision of education services has been a major concern of  planners in the preparation of the Provincial Education Plan.
Transport, Communications and Other Support Infrastructure Air Transport is the main mode of travel in the province. This is mainly due to the virtual absence of a road network connecting the districts to the provincial headquarters. Hence costs of travel and freighting of goods is   West Sepik Provincial Education Plan 2007-2014 5  very expensive. Third level airlines are now operating irregularly in the province. Missionary Aviation Fellowship  (MAF), Diocese of Vanimo (DOVAIR) and National Air Service (NAS) do not provide RPT (Regular Passenger  Transport) as previously. Airlink which had daily services (except Sunday) connecting into Vanimo from Port
Moresby, Lae, Madang and Wewak and Aitape ceased operation in mid-2007. The flag carrier Air Niugini also  serves the Province three times a week through Vanimo. Vanimo wharf takes in cargo vessels weekly while  passenger ships come in every two weeks.
Communication facilities, although reliable at times are still limited, to the extent that many rural areas often  cannot be reached by reliable modern day communication. Mobile phone systems were installed in Aitape and  Vanimo in 2006, but the services are very limited both in terms of range of access and also in regard to the number of people who can afford the high costs of the service. Most of the out lying districts are either totally out  of contact or are restricted to an unreliable two way radio system operated by the health centres and churches.

Bank South Pacific has branches in Aitape, Vanimo and agencies in Lumi, Nuku and Telefomin. Westpac Bank has a branch in Vanimo. There are also Post Offices in Vanimo and Aitape with postal agencies in Lumi, Nuku and Telefomin. 
West Sepik map
Primary Education 
Access to Primary Schools (Grades 3 – 8)
The establishment of primary schools began in 1997 after the first elementary schools were established in the Vanimo area in 1996. Vanimo and Dapu Community Schools began enrolling their first Grade 7 classes in 1997 and changed their status to Primary Schools. In 1998 Baro Community School enrolled its first
Grade 7 classes after having established elementary schools at Yako and Waromo villages.  The Education Reform expanded slowly but the programme at elementary and primary level gradually  extended to the other districts of Aitape, Lumi, Nuku, Amanab and Telefomin in the old provincial structure.

SECONDARY EDUCATION
Definition
Secondary Education in Sandaun Province must for the time being assume a different definition from that which  is to be found in the National Education Plan. NEP covers Secondary Education in the Grades 9 to 12 with  lower secondary being Grades 9 to 10 and upper being Grades 11 and 12.  In some parts of Sandaun Province for the next few years, lower Secondary Education will also embrace  Grades 7 and 8. That is to say Grades 7 and 8 will continue to be taught in some high schools in the province  until such time as there are sufficient and suitably located, Primary schools to cater for children from even the
most remote locations in Grades 7 and 8. Upper secondary education, consistent with the NEP, means Grades 11 and 12.
Access
The opening of Oksapmin High School at the start of 2007 brought the number of secondary schools in the  province to nine. Six of these are conventional high schools, Grades 7 to 10, some of them at various stages of adopting the reform set-up and discarding Grades 7 and 8, one (Oksapmin) a new Grade 9 -10 high school
accepting its first intake in 2007 classes, and two secondary schools running Grades 9 to 12
FLEXIBLE, OPEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATION

Definition
Flexible, Open and Distant Education (FODE) provides an opportunity for those who are not able to attain  recognised educational qualifications (high school and secondary school level) through the formal education  system to attain these qualifications. The current focus is for the children wishing to complete their Grades 7 to
10 educational qualifications through the College of Distance Education (CODE). A number of Grades 11 and 12 students are also been given the opportunity to attain their upper secondary qualifications through this system.
Access
The National Education Plan states that since 1995 there has been an increase in the number of school leavers  and this has been coupled with a lack of access to secondary and higher education. The numbers of those in  Sandaun Province who fall into this category are difficult to establish, but it is certain that there is a significant  number of children in the province who have dropped out of, or have been dropped by, the formal system but  have the desire to proceed further with their education.  The move by the province to make this educational opportunity accessible saw the start up of the CODE centre  in Vanimo in 1983. The interest grew and currently there are three established centres providing access for this  sector. The three centres encompass a Provincial Flexible and Open Distance Education (FODE) Centre in  Vanimo, a University Centre located at the campus of Don Bosco Secondary School in Vanimo and affiliated to  University of Papua New Guinea and the NALU Centre for Advanced Education located at the Aitape Catholic  Church establishment in Aitape and affiliated to PNG University of Technology.
There are also FODE Study Centres situated at the NALU Centre and at Aiyipi (Malol) in the Aitape West LLG.  Both of these Study Centres are supported by the Catholic Diocese of Aitape. Previously there were many  registered Study Centres spread throughout the Province but these have folded because of lack of financial
support and personnel who are prepared to volunteer their services to administer the Centres. 

TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Definition
The Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) embraces:
Vocational Education – which aims to provide alternate, skills-oriented education and training for students  leaving the formal education system with Grade 8 (and sometimes Grade 10 )school certificates; and  Technical Education – which aims to provide skills training in technical areas for students leaving the formal
education system with Grades 10 and 12 school certificates and to provide further opportunities for those  already in the work force?  Since technical education is primarily a national function, the analysis of the existing situation in the province will  concentrate on the status of vocational education whilst raising issues on the linkages to technical education.
Access
The National Education Reform has resulted in a growing number of students leaving the formal education  system after Grades 8 and 10. This trend is clearly seen in Sandaun Province and the consequences, both  short-term and long-term a becoming a cause for concern. The Province, like all other provinces, has the task of
seeking alternative education pathways, strategies or arrangements to cater for the increasing number of  students dropping out of the formal school system after Grades 8 and 10 and recently Grade 12.
The Province nominally has 16 vocational centers and one Technical Secondary School as shown in Table 00 below. Of the 16 vocational centres, five have been closed for a long period of time (Puang, Baro, Nukuanglo, Oksapmin and Wasengla), two are presently closed (Seim and Yanungen) and nine (9) are operational to
varying degrees. Don Bosco Secondary School is fully operational and running technical trade courses. (It should be noted however that students at Don Bosco Secondary School study a full academic Grade 10 and Grade 12 curriculum in addition to receiving technical training in specific fields). Of the nine currently operating vocational centers, the Pes Vocational Center in Aitape and Wassisi Vocational Center in Nuku are running courses specifically for girls. 


Next : Southern Highlands Province

Share this

Click & Install APP.

Download APP
Search Papua New Guinea Database >>

Study Awards 
Scholarships 
Sponsors
Universities

Seasonal Employment
Job/Employment

Study in PNG
Tech Pacific 
Privacy Policy 


PNG News 
Business News
International News
Sports News                                Kumul players' profile
Used Cars 
Government
Constitution
Education
Health
City of Port Moresby
Hotels/Lodges
Faces of PNG
Computer Guides
Weebly Forums
Tok Pisin Dictionary
Adventures Photos 
Travel
Kokoda Track
Tours 
Gospel Music
Survey  
Contact Us
About Us 
Send Free SMS
PNG Jokes 
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
​
Useful Sites
  • Scholarships Awards
  • Scholarships for Study Abroad 
  • Study Scholarships ​
  • PNG Online School
Home: PNG News :Travel : Government System: Computer Tech : About us:  Contact : Disclaimer : Sitemap : Login  Copyright & Disclaimer    © 2012 -2025 PNG Facts: All rights reserved: 
 Website developed by  Kilikalo  Technology & Business Solutions Ltd   

About

About 
Contact Us
Our Service 

Terms 

Privacy 
Disclaimer 
Copyright 

Advertisement 

Sitemap 
Get A Webpage 
Advertisement 
​
Donate /Sponsor 
 COPYRIGHT 2025. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • News
  • Business News
  • Economy News
  • PNG Politics
  • Sports News
  • International News
  • Corruption News
    • Expose Corruption in Papua New Guinea
    • Expose Police Brutality in PNG
    • Gender Based Violence in PNG
    • Kramer Report
  • Mining Watch
    • PNG Kumuls Videos
    • List of Mines in PNG
  • Jobs
    • Jobs in PNG
    • Jobs in PNG
    • Seasonal Employment Overseas
    • Applying for Jobs and Employments in Papua New Guinea
  • Education News
  • Scholarships
  • Health News
  • Bzzmart Online Shopping Platform
  • Pacific
  • Used Cars
    • Used Cars for sale in PNG
  • Buy or Rent Homes
  • Travel
    • City of Port Moresby
    • Adventure and Destination
    • Hotels & Lodges in PNG
    • Hotels & Lodges in Mendi, Southern Highlands Province
    • Hotels & Lodges in Lorengau, Manus Province
    • Hotels in Oro Province
    • Hotels and Lodges in ESP
    • Hotels & Lodges in Kavieng
    • Hotels and lodges in Kimbe
    • PNG Photo Gallery
    • Map of Papua New Guinea
  • PNG
    • Government >
      • PNG National Anthem and Pledge
      • Overview
      • PNG Overseas Missions
      • Office of the PNG Prime Minister >
        • Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea
      • Papua New Guinea Parliament
      • Provinces in Papua New Guinea >
        • PNG Provincial Goverments
        • Southern Highlands Province
        • West Sepik Provice
      • PNG Government Overseas engagement >
        • List of PNG Parliament Members 2017 - 2022
      • Office of the Papua New Guinea Opposition
      • Politics >
        • PNG Political Parties & Members
        • Papua New Guinea Cabinet Ministers
      • Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary >
        • PNG Police Recruitments and Applications
    • PNG's Famous People
    • PNG Education System >
      • Overview
      • Education Reform in PNG
      • Study Abroad
      • Universities in Papua New Guinea >
        • University of Papua New Guinea
        • University of Technology PNG
        • Divine Word University
        • University of Goroka
        • Pacific Adventist University
        • University of Natural Resources and Science - PNG
      • Institutions in PNG >
        • Teachers Colleges in Papua New Guinea
      • Research Papers in PNG
    • PNG Economy >
      • PNG EconomyOverview
      • Banks in Papua New Guinea
      • List of Airlines in Papua New Guinea
      • Cost of living in Papua New Guinea
      • Doing Business in Papua New Guinea
    • Health
    • Pacific Jokes
    • Gospel Music
  • Computer Tech
    • Tech Help
    • Top Weebly designed Websites >
      • HOW TO RECOVER FILES WITH SHORT CUTS OR HIDDEN IN FLASH DRIVE OR EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE
      • How to remove Stubborn Computer Virus
      • Creating Login or Sign in Membership page in Weebly sites
      • How to auto insert Table of Content in Word
      • Top Weebly Website Examples and Portfolio
      • Weebly Membership Sign in feature available
    • Send Free SMS in PNG
    • Radio Stations
    • Television stations >
      • Kundu 2 Television Service of Papua New Guinea
  • PNG Information Directory
    • Business Names Registration
    • Registering a Company in PNG
    • Tour Operators in PNG
    • Festivals and Tourism in Papua New Guinea
    • Lae City , Papua New Guinea
    • Armoured Car Services in Papua New Guinea
    • Taxi Services in Port Moresby
  • Computer Resources
  • Classifieds
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Competition
  • Advertisement
    • Payments
  • Privacy Policy
  • SP PNG Hunters News
  • Weebly Forums
  • National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
  • Work Permits and VISAs in PNG : Guide
  • Seasonal Workers Program for PNG
  • List Your Business on PNGFacts.com
  • Twodot Business Solutions
  • Become a Sponsor
  • Mt Giluwe Lodge
  • Papua New Guinea Defence Force
    • PNG Defence Force Recruitment and Applications
  • Political parties in PNG
    • PNC Party
    • PANGU Party
    • National Alliance Party
    • United Labour Party ULP
    • People's Progress Party PPP
  • NID PNG
  • Employment VISA in PNG
  • Business VISA
  • Visitor VISA
  • Police Clearance in Solomon Islands
  • PNG Electoral Commission
  • PNG Election Results
  • PNG Kina Exchange Rate