TIPNG AND NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FORGE PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOOL BASED CIVIC EDUCATION ROLL-OUT

Port Moresby, Thursday 11 December 2025 – Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) and the National Department of Education (NDoE) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formally launch the updating and national roll-out of the School Based Civic Education (SBCE) Curriculum, supported by the Australia-Papua new Guinea Law and Justice Partnership (APLJ). 

The signing, which takes place in recognition of International Anti-Corruption Day (December 9), directly champions this year’s theme of “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.”

TIPNG’s SBCE Curriculum is an initiative that directly supports Papua New Guinea’s National Goals and Directive Principles of Papua New Guinea, particularly Goal 2 of Equality and Participation and Goal 5 relating to PNG Ways by promoting integrity and accountability in all sectors.

TIPNG CEO, Ms Arianne Kassman said, “TIPNG’s vision is to foster a country where all citizens operate within the rule of law and are free from corruption and we are committed to this vision through the development of the School Based Civic Education Curriculum. We want to cultivate a population that participates more effectively in governance so that state agencies are made accountable, act transparently and always use state resources in achieving greater levels of national development.”

This new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), spanning 2025–2028, initiates the critical phase of updating the materials and executing the full national roll-out of the School Based Civic Education (SBCE) Curriculum. This agreement is built upon a long-standing, phased partnership with the National Department of Education (NDoE). The NDoE has been a committed partner since 1998, when TIPNG first embarked on its mission to promote civic education in PNG. The two preceding MoUs focused specifically on the initial development and subsequent trialing of the SBCE materials, paving the way for the nationwide implementation now underway.

TIPNG acknowledges the Australian Government, through APLJ, for its sustained support throughout the curriculum’s development, trialling, and updating phases. The partnership with the NDoE and the Australian Government is crucial for the successful implementation and national reach of this vital education program. 

“The signing of this MoU is a decisive step toward turning our successful School Based Civic Education Project into a national movement. This partnership, solidified in recognition of International Anti-Corruption Day, is an investment in the young population. We are placing the tools of active citizenship directly into the hands of our young people, teaching them not just what their rights are, but how to use them to ensure good governance. We are raising a generation of a more transparent and accountable Papua New Guineans, one student at a time, “ said Ms Kassman.

The SBCE curriculum, that has been trialled in several provinces, is a comprehensive, multi-format toolkit designed for Grades 3 through 12. These resources, which include a Teacher Resource Book, an Android Application with ethical dilemmas, and posters on civic concepts, address topics such as human rights, active citizenship, conflict of interest, and democracy.