Australian assistance to PNG in the education sector supports stability and government legitimacy through improved delivery of basic services. The goal of Australia's education program to PNG is to work in partnership with the Government of PNG to support its Education Reform Program. The aim of the reform is to make progress towards sustainable, quality, universal basic education, and a productive, skilled population. Some examples include: An extra 192,000 children ( one- third increase ) are going to school compared to four years ago, 800 elementary teachers graduated after completing 3 years of training, over the last 3 years there have been 450 tertiary and over 600 secondary graduates have been trained in Australia.
Australia is supporting projects that aim to strengthen public administration and economic management. These projects include activities aimed at assisting provincial government, improving financial management and strengthening the public sector. Some success include: a program of support to assist PNG's economic reform effort and re-engagement with the IMF and World Bank has commenced. Technical assistance for key economic management agencies and training for PNG officials is being provided. PNG is implementing a Financial Management Improvement Program, with assistance from Australia, the ADB and UNDP. Australia is funding large financial management training for provincial and local level governments with the assistance of Treasury, the Department of Finance and Administration and the Australian Taxation Office. Australia and the ADB are co financing the design of a major public sector reform framework for PNG; this is expected to lead to long term improvements across the entire public sector. A project to assist the PNG Electoral Commission is helping PNG improve the administration of elections and increase awareness of electoral matters in the community. And also assistance is being provided to the PNG National Statistics Office for the conduct of the national 2000 Census.
