12/06/2026
Many people often compare parenting and education in Papua New Guinea between the past and the present. In earlier generations, many parents had little or no formal education, low incomes, and limited access to services and technology. Despite these challenges, they made major sacrifices to pay high school fees, supported discipline at home, encouraged respect for elders, and expected children to contribute to family and community life. Children often learned through practical experience, manual work, cultural values, and self-reliance. As a result, many grew into capable, resourceful, hardworking, and respected citizens who contributed positively to their communities and the nation.
In contrast, today’s generation of parents generally has greater access to education, literacy, technology, government support programs, and improved services. Policies such as Tuition Fee Free (TFF) have reduced some financial barriers to schooling. However, many communities continue to express concern that easier access to education alone has not guaranteed better outcomes for all children. Social challenges such as school dropouts, low academic performance, youth unemployment, underage relationships, substance abuse, petty crime, dependence on technology, and reduced parental supervision are often raised as growing concerns.
These differences may not simply reflect a decline in parenting or youth behaviour, but broader social changes including rapid urbanisation, changing family structures, economic pressure, social media influence, peer pressure, unemployment, and reduced community involvement.
The lesson from both generations is that education alone does not raise successful children. Strong family values, parental guidance, discipline, responsibility, community support, cultural identity, and personal effort remain essential for developing productive and responsible citizens.