Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has hailed the
continued success of the Flexible Open and Distance Education (FODE) program, which
continues to experience growth in enrolment numbers each year since its inception,
with Academic Year 2025 to have over 100,000 students from across the country.
As the founder of the FODE Initiative himself, Prime Minister Marape says the Program
for over many years now opens doors to second chance education for youths who are
school drop-outs or adults who could not make it through the formal education
system, has seen over a million students enrolled who have re-built their passion and
dreams for their careers and future endeavors.
The Prime Minister acknowledged Education Minister Hon. Lucas Dekena’s recent
announcement of FODE enrolment numbers nationwide reaching the 100,000 mark
this year and also the fact that over 50 percent of FODE students from last year (2024)
qualified for university admission.
PM Marape stated: “I initiated the FODE Program when I was Minister for Education
in 2009. Formerly known as College Of Distance Education (CODE), now FODE is a
‘School at Home’, where students study the same primary and secondary education
curriculum in their own time, in their own homes, and at their own pace.
The beauty of the FODE Program is that students who complete Grade 12 are equally qualified as their counterparts in the formal education system to apply to Colleges and
Universities. We’ve enabled the FODE Grade 12 Certificate to be recognised and be
acceptable for students under the Program to enrol at any of our tertiary institutions,
as they pursue further studies.
“The FODE Program has opened up great pathways for youths and adults alike
throughout the 22 Provinces of the country to upgrade their qualification levels or
matriculate through second chance education. This is proving very fruitful and is a
game-changer for our education system, where many youths who missed out on
completing their education through the normal system, have been able to do so and
qualify for spaces in tertiary education institutions or be able to secure a job and build
a career and life, rather than being a burden to society through social problems.
The Government has also enabled those completing Grade 12 under FODE Program to
apply through the Online Application System under the Department of Higher
Education, thus enabling them to be selected under the Online Selection System.
“I urge everyone out there, education is not only about qualifying to get into college
or university.
Matriculation up to Grade 12 enables greater perspective in life. Apart
from FODE students aiming to upgrade their qualification in order to get a job in PNG,
especially with a Grade 12 certificate, there are optional career pathways which have
been enabled by my Government for the students to pursue such as the Labour
Mobility Program for Papua New Guineans to gain access to working in Australia or
New Zealand. Part of the minimum requirements now for participants of the Labour
Mobility Program are to have a Grade 12 School Certificate, which if missed out on
through the formal system can still be achieved through FODE Program. A Pastor’s
certification for character reference will also be required. This is to ensure a person
has basic education and good character to work through the Labour Mobility Program
overseas.”
Marape added: “When I initiated the FODE Program, which has been a real success
and well-supported by the Pangu Government, I envisioned a PNG society that would
have an improved level of literacy among the population, and that there would be less
or no youths or even adults roaming around aimlessly or looking for jobs because they
don’t have the qualifications. I wanted to empower youths especially to be involved in
productive activities in society and not resorting to crime and lawlessness.
“The more people become educated and have jobs and can sustain themselves in a
safe environment and uphold Christian principles and are law-abiding, the more we
will see improvement in our law and order situation. We will have a peaceful and
prosperous society which our children and grandchildren can be proud of.”
Marape urged all people across the nation who are not formally educated or have not
fully completed school and are involved in crime and being a hindrance to law-abiding
citizens to stay away from such bad activities that will only make matters worse for
themselves. He instead encouraged them to turn to positive ways of living and enrol
under Programs such as FODE which the Marape Government has established for
them and rebuild their lives and their families and communities for the better.
Prime Minister Marape also highlighted other significant education programs initiated
under his Government that are producing great results for the young people of the
nation including the STEM Curriculum and Higher Education Loan Program (HELP). This
is also backed by the Government’s increased support in terms of Free Education, thus
greatly relieving the burden on parents and guardians in paying for school fees.
He also mentioned that the Marape-Rosso Government is eyeing further reform in the
Education sector of the country, not just elementary to secondary level but also at
tertiary level, with plans in place to extending support in expanding private colleges
and universities in-country, as well as online learning and other initiatives.
“We are looking at opening more doors for Papua New Guineans to have skill-based
education and certification or other qualifications to prepare them for not just
employment but for life,” said PM Marape.