Upper Primary Education
Upper primary education covers grades 6 to 8. English is the language of instruction although support is provided to assist students maintain their vernacular language or Tok Ples. By this stage most children in PNG are familiar with three languages, Tok Pisin (Pidgin), Tok Ples and English.
Teaching at grades 6-8 is generalist, although some specialist subject based teaching is provided. The subjects for upper primary are Language, Mathematics, Science, Making a Living, Social Science, The Arts and Personal Development.
All syllabuses are outcomes based and reflect traditional PNG cultural values. The upper primary syllabuses were endorsed by the Primary Board of Studies and approved by the Secretary for Education in May 2002. They represent the first truly PNG syllabuses developed by Papua New Guineans for PNG.They were launched by the Minister for Education on 7th October 2002 in Buka.