Graduation day: An extra push with a little extra support

Gurame Moiya attended the 2025 Australian National University-University of Papua New Guinea Summer School in Canberra supported by the ANU-UPNG Partnership. In 2026, he graduated from UPNG with the Sir Mekere Morauta Award for the top performing student graduating with a bachelor’s degree in the Economics strand under the School of Business and Public Policy. He is currently working as a Assistant Analyst at the PNG Department of Treasury's Sectoral Policy Division. Reflecting on his journey, Gurame shares his thoughts on education, his country, and his experience with ANU. Here is his story in his own words.

Education is more than learning in a classroom. It is hope for a better future. It gives people the chance to improve their lives, support their families, and contribute to the development of their country. As Nelson Mandela famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which one can use to change the world”. In Papua New Guinea (PNG) to get good education is not only a personal journey; it is a shared responsibility between families, communities, churches, and the government. These institutions each make unique contributions to one’s educational journey.  

For many students in PNG, success in education does not come easily. It takes determination, sacrifice, and what many people call “an extra push”. Behind every student is a family making sacrifices. Parents work hard in gardens, markets, offices, and small businesses to pay school fees, buy uniforms, and provide lunch money and other expenses that come with it. Many families give up important needs so their children can continue their education.

For children living in the remotest parts of PNG, going to school is often a difficult journey. Some walk long distances on rough roads and muddy tracks. Others cross rivers or travel by boat between islands before they can reach their classrooms. During heavy rain or extreme weather, these journeys become even harder. Even in towns and cities, many students face challenges every day. Children from settlements and nearby villages wake up early, wait long hours at bus stops, or squeeze into overcrowded mini-buses just to attend school. 

As one moves into colleges and universities, the challenges become even greater. Higher education requires more money, more time, and more personal sacrifice.  Many often leave their homes and families behind to continue their studies. Despite these struggles, they continue to show commitment because they know education can change their future.

My own educational journey reflects some of the challenges I shared in a Devpolicy Blog. Despite those setbacks, I was deeply humbled in the process of completing my degree that I was the amongst the ten UPNG students from the Economics and Public Policy streams to be chosen to attend the ANU–UPNG Summer School program at the Australian National University in early 2025, supported by the ANU-UPNG partnership. 

The program was an eye-opening experience that exposed us to world-class education, research, and public policy. It provided valuable skills in transforming raw data into meaningful analysis, tables, and graphs to better understand PNG's economic challenges and develop evidence-based solutions. Visits to leading institutions like The World Bank and The Lowy Institute in Sydney further broadened our understanding of governance, research, and national development. Above all, the experience reinforced my belief that investing in education, research, and innovation is essential for PNG's future.

In April this year, I graduated from the University of PNG with a Bachelor of Economics. Standing on the graduation stage and receiving my degree from the Pro-Chancellor was one of the happiest moments of my life. I was honoured to receive the Sir Mekere Morauta Award, presented by Sir Robin Fleming. Receiving this prestigious award was recognition for the years I committed to studying economics.

During the graduation event, which was the 71st graduation ceremony and followed 50 years of PNG independence, the keynote speech highlighted the important role families play in supporting education. It told stories of parents taking loans to pay for school fees, apart from the everyday realities of selling goods at local markets, working extra hours, and making many personal sacrifices so children will get education. These stories reflect the strong Melanesian values of family support, unity, and collective responsibility. In PNG, when one child graduates, the achievement is shared by the entire family, clan, and community because everyone has contributed in one way or another to that success. It is a reminder that in PNG, no student succeeds alone. 

There is still much that can be done to improve education for students in PNG. Policymakers continue to strengthen investments in education by increasing funding and resource support for schools, particularly in rural and remote communities. This includes improving classrooms, providing adequate learning materials, expanding access to libraries and digital technologies, and ensuring schools have qualified teachers and essential infrastructure.

Greater attention should also be given to improving foundational literacy and numeracy. Every child should have the opportunity to develop strong reading and writing skills in their early years through well-resourced schools, effective teaching, and targeted government support. Investing in early childhood and primary education lays the foundation for better educational outcomes and a more productive workforce. 

In addition, expanding scholarships, bursaries, and other forms of financial assistance would enable more students from low-income families to complete their education without the burden of financial hardship. By ensuring that every child regardless of where they live or their family's income has access to quality education, PNG can unlock the potential of its young people and build a more inclusive and prosperous future for the nation. 

Finally, this serves as a reminder to every family and community across PNG that supporting education begins at home. Encouraging children to attend school, valuing learning, and standing beside them throughout their educational journey are simple actions that can have a lasting impact. Parents, guardians, churches, teachers, and community leaders all play an essential role in helping young people overcome challenges and achieve their potential. When families and communities continue to invest in education, they are not only shaping the future of their children but also contributing to the future development of PNG.

Education remains one of the most powerful tools for building a better PNG. Every student who walks long distances, crosses rivers, travels by boat, or overcomes personal struggles to attend school is investing in the future of the country. Supporting education means investing in people, communities, and national development. With a little extra support and a little extra push in policy we would see more great stories.

Learn more about the relationship between ANU and the University of Papua New Guinea. The ANU-UPNG Partnership is an initiative of the PNG-Australia Partnership, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This article and photos may be reproduced with acknowledgement that it was first published by the Australian National University and a link to the original article.