Papua New Guinea: Keas Yakale Catholic Community Pioneers 1:6:6 Education Reform

Amid the misty highlands of Enga Province, the Keas Yakale Catholic Community is pioneering the implementation of Papua New Guinea’s 1:6:6 education reform, blending faith and innovation to transform rural learning.

Launched by the National Department of Education to transform learning across the country, the policy is being embraced by the community with characteristic faith and resolve. With support from the Diocese of Wabag, local leaders, parents, and educators are aligning spiritual values and resources to make the policy a lived reality — positioning Keas Yakale as a model for other church-run and remote schools.

Understanding the 1:6:6 Education Structure

The 1:6:6 policy, introduced in 2023, replaced the older 2:6:4 system with:

The 1:6:6 education structure consists of one year of Early Childhood Education (ECE), followed by six years of Primary Education from Grades 1 to 6.

Six years of secondary education, divided into lower secondary (grades 7 to 10) and upper secondary (Grades 11 and 12), complete this structure.

This shift encourages consolidation of school infrastructure, curriculum alignment with the PNG National Qualifications Framework, and the inclusion of vocational, digital, and life skills in the curriculum.

For rural faith-based schools like Keas Yakale, the policy presents both challenge and opportunity — requiring new infrastructure, teacher upskilling, and curriculum expansion, while offering the promise of educational parity with urban areas.

A Catholic Community at the Frontliness of Change

Since the 1970s, Keas Mission Station has served as a hub for Catholic-led development — establishing schools, health posts, and youth programs. The Keas Catholic School, now serving over 500 students from surrounding areas, consistently ranks among the top-performing schools in the Wabag District.

“This is not just a government policy,” says Mr. Jones Luma, community education coordinator. “It is a kairos moment — a God-given opportunity to lift our children into the light of knowledge and dignity.”

Plans for Implementation: A Community-Led Strategy

In 2025, the Catholic parish education board held consultations to design a three-year strategic plan based on five key pillars:

1. Infrastructure Realignment

2. The existing school blocks are redesigned to suit the new 1:6:6 education structure. New classrooms are under construction to accommodate Grades 7 to 10, while a former dormitory is being transformed into an Early Childhood Education (ECE) facility — the first of its kind in the Diocese of Wabag.

3. Teacher Upskilling and Recruitment

4. To address teacher shortages, scholarships are being provided for local teacher trainees through a partnership with the Catholic Education Agency. In addition, current teachers are participating in district-led workshops focused on competency-based learning approaches.

5. Faith Integration in the Curriculum

6. Religious education is being incorporated at every grade level. Catechesis, Bible-based moral lessons, and Catholic social teaching are woven into the broader academic curriculum.

7. Parental Involvement and Community Ownership

8. Weekly community awareness sessions are conducted to inform parents about the 1:6:6 system. Families are actively contributing by providing labor and construction materials and sharing cultural knowledge within the school environment.

9. ICT and Vocational Education

10. A solar-powered computer laboratory is being established, equipped with offline learning tools such as Kolibri and Khan Academy. Vocational training, including carpentry, farming, and sewing, is offered from Grade 7 onward to equip students with practical life skills.

Challenges on the Road to Reform

Despite significant progress, the Keas Yakale Catholic Community continues to face several challenges. Funding shortages hinder the completion of critical infrastructure and the purchase of essential learning materials.

The remote location of the community leads to frequent transportation delays, especially during adverse weather conditions. Cultural barriers, including early marriages and gender roles, affect student retention, particularly for girls. Additionally, ambiguities in national education policy have created planning uncertainties for the school.

However, local efforts — like support from the Enga Catholic Women’s Association and community pledges of resources — show a strong commitment to overcoming these issues.

Voices from the Community

Young Yakale Wanaku, age 5, says, “I want to help mothers who die during childbirth in our villages. With the new policy, I can study here and become a doctor.”

The father of seven, Yacale Wane, donated gravel and timber for the school’s expansion. “This school is my garden,” he says. “If I take care of it, my children will harvest a better life.”

A missionary sister puts it simply: “We are not just building a school system. We are building a future where Christ walks with every child in every classroom.”

A Model for Other Catholic Communities

The Diocese of Wabag has declared the Keas Yakale model a “pilot of excellence,” planning to replicate it across other mission schools. The Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO) also recognized Keas Yakale's grassroots leadership at recent meetings in Port Moresby.

There is a growing awareness that true education reform must be lived and led by local communities, and Keas Yakale is lighting the way.

From the Cross to the Classroom

In Keas Yakale, faith and education are united. For this Catholic community, the 1:6:6 policy is not just reform — it is a mission. It is meeting Christ in the chalk dust, in the textbooks, and in the shared dreams of every child.

Bishop Justine recently proclaimed, “From this mountain, God will raise teachers, nurses, priests, and leaders. Let us build not just classrooms — but cathedrals of wisdom, hope, and light.”