Papua New Guinea Education

Papua New Guinea, independent nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is made up of the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, called the mainland; the Bismarck Archipelago; the Louisiade Archipelago; the Trobriand Islands, and the D'Entrecasteaux Islands; Woodlark Island; and other nearby islands, including Bougainville and Buka. Papua New Guinea is bounded on the north by the Bismarck Sea; on the east by the Solomon Sea; on the south by the Coral Sea, the Gulf of Papua, and the Torres Strait; and on the west by the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya. The nation has an area of 462,840 sq km (178,704 sq mi). Port Moresby (population, 1990 preliminary, 193,242), is the capital of the country and its principal city; other cities include Lae (80,655) and Madang (27,057). The population of Papua New Guinea (1990, preliminary) was 3,689,000, yielding a density of about 8 persons per sq km (20 per sq mi).

Physical Characteristics
The coastline of mainland Papua New Guinea is mostly low-lying. In the south it is deeply indented by river mouths and by a number of bays, including, at the eastern extremity, Milne Bay. The interior is partly a low-lying, swampy plain formed by alluvial action. The interior also contains a series of rugged mountains, including the Bismarck and Owen Stanley ranges. The highest point is Mount Wilhelm (4509 m/14,793 ft). Rivers of the mainland include the Fly, in the southwest; the Purari, in the south; and the Sepic, Markham, and Ramu, in the north. The Fly is navigable in its lower course. Some of Papua New Guinea's other islands, such as New Britain and Bougainville, are mountainous, and many of the small islands are low-lying coral atolls.

Climate
The climate of Papua New Guinea is generally hot and humid. In the lowlands temperatures range between 21.1° and 32.2° C (70° and 90° F). In the mountainous regions lows of 3.3° C (38° F) have been recorded. Annual rainfall totals nearly 5080 mm (nearly 200 in) in the Milne Bay region and about 5840 mm (about 230 in) at the mouth of the Fly River. Port Moresby, which lies between these two points, is sheltered by the Owen Stanley Range and receives only about 1145 mm (about 45 in) of rain annually.

Plants and Animals
Sago and mangrove swamps are found along parts of the coast of the mainland. Farther inland are tropical rain forest, jungle vegetation, and grassland. Scattered stands of pine trees are found on the mountains, as are deciduous forest and some alpine flora.
The wild animal life of Papua New Guinea is abundant and varied. Commonly found mammals include the tree kangaroo, wallaby, wild pig, dingo, and varieties of squirrel, rat, bat, and mouse. Numerous species of tropical birds abound, including the bird of paradise. Reptile species are numerous. The coastal waters support many species of fish, shellfish, and turtles.

Economy
Agriculture is the most important economic activity in Papua New Guinea. For the most part it is practiced on a subsistence level. Coconuts, sweet potatoes, bananas, and yams are important crops. Subsistence fishing and hunting are also carried on by the native population. Commercial crops are raised on plantations. The principal commercial crops in the late 1980s were coffee (72,000 metric tons annually), cacao (36,000), and copra (155,000).
In the late 1980s an increasingly important economic activity was the exploitation of Papua New Guinea's mineral resources. Large mines of copper and gold were in operation on the island of Bougainville and on the mainland. The annual mineral output included copper, 217,700 metric tons; silver, 61,100 kg (67.35 tons); and gold, 33,250 kg (36.65 tons). Papua New Guinea also produces considerable quantities of timber, and freshwater and marine fishing is a sizable industry. Most of the country's manufacturing industry is limited to producing basic consumer items such as processed food and clothing.
Papua New Guinea's rough terrain makes the construction of surface transportation routes extremely difficult, and the country has only a very limited system of paved roads and no railroads. Air service provides important links with many areas. Air Niugini, the national airline, offers domestic and international connections. Port Moresby is an important seaport.
The unit of currency in Papua New Guinea is the kina, which is divided into 100 toea (0.9751 kina equal U.S.$1; 1990). Annual exports in the late 1980s were $1.4 billion; imports, $1.2 billion. The leading exports were copper ore, coffee, cacao, and timber; the principal imports were machinery and transport equipment, foodstuffs, and petroleum products. Major trade partners included Australia, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States.

Government
Papua New Guinea is governed under a constitution that went into effect in 1975. The head of state is the British sovereign, who is represented by a governor-general. Legislative power is vested in the unicameral National Parliament, made up of 109 members popularly elected to terms of up to five years. The main executive body is the National Executive Council, which is responsible to Parliament. The council is presided over by a prime minister. Major political groups include Pangu Pati (founded 1967), the People's Progress party (1970), the Melanesian Alliance (1978), the National party (1979), and the People's Democratic Movement (1985). The highest tribunal is the supreme court; lesser judicial bodies include district, local, and wardens' courts. Papua New Guinea is divided into a national capital district and 19 provinces.

History
For a discussion of the history before 1883 of the area of present-day Papua New Guinea, see NEW GUINEA.
In 1883 the government of Queensland, Australia, annexed the southeastern portion of the island of New Guinea to prevent an apparently imminent German annexation. The following year Great Britain established the area as part of the protectorate of British New Guinea. Australia assumed administrative responsibility in 1901, and the formal transfer to Australian jurisdiction was effected in 1906. The territory was then renamed Papua. At the beginning of World War I (1914-1918) Australia also occupied the German-controlled northeastern section of the island, but the two were administered as different entities. The northern portion became a League of Nations mandate. Under Australian administration an educational system was introduced, sanitation was improved, and commercial plantations were established.
In 1942, during World War II, Japanese forces occupied the northern section and penetrated to within 56 km (35 mi) of Port Moresby. A U.S. and Australian counteroffensive drove the invaders from Papua before the end of January 1943.
After the war, Australia, given a United Nations trusteeship over the northern territory, united the administration of the two areas, and subsequently continued its efforts to further education and to develop the economy. In order to prepare the country for eventual autonomy and independence, the Australians sought to encourage democratic institutions. The first village council was established in 1950, and the following year a countrywide legislative council was created. It gave way in 1964 to a House of Assembly.
A Papuan-controlled central government was formed in 1972, and on December 1, 1973, the territories of Papua and New Guinea became the self-governing area of Papua New Guinea. The country became fully independent on September 6, 1975, with Michael T. Somare, head of the Pangu Pati, as its first prime minister. Turned out of office on a vote of no confidence in 1980, he was replaced by Sir Julius Chan, leader of the People's Progress party. The government subsequently sent troops into neighboring Vanuatu to quell an uprising there. Somare returned to power after elections in 1982. His government fell in 1985 and was replaced by a coalition government led by Paias Wingti. Rabbie Namaliu became prime minister in 1988, but Wingti returned to power in 1992.