The Autonomous Bougainville Government's (ABG) Minister for Education, Hon. Thomas Pa’ataku, has reaffirmed that education is the bedrock of the region’s future, describing it as the “number one priority” for building a better society.
Speaking at the closing of the 2026 Senior Education Officer’s Conference (SEOC) this week in Buka, Minister Pa’ataku emphasized that the region’s recovery from past conflict depends on a robust and effective education system.
The Minister expressed his deep appreciation for the newly appointed National Education Minister, Hon. Francis Kikin Siune, who chose Bougainville for his first official visit just two days after taking office.
Pa’ataku noted that this visit signals a strong commitment from the national government to work with Bougainville.
"We believe that a better society will only come about if we must make sure we make education our number one priority," Pa’ataku stated, adding that the ABG is eager to utilize national strategies to achieve maximum benefits for Bougainvillean students.
He also called for a revitalization of local leadership within the education department to ensure that the transferred powers effectively serve the people.
"In Bougainville, the people who have voted to become independent too will be able to see that this department—our departments—can work together to make sure that we must have a better system that can effectively serve our communities," he remarked.
Following Minister Pa’ataku’s address, the National Minister for Education, Hon. Francis Kikin Siune, delivered his speech committing to significant infrastructure development and the formal decentralization of educational authority. Minister Siune described the education portfolio as a "challenging" but "vital" responsibility that requires total cooperation between national and regional leaders.
Minister Siune also announced the official transfer of 22 education functions to the ABG, including school registration, compliance, and the Government Free Education Policy (GFEM). This shift allows Bougainville to have full authority over its schools' status and management.
"Our country can be destroyed if we do not fix our education system," the Minister warned, emphasizing that policymaking must focus on the people.
Minister Siune pledged tangible support, including a K400,000 commitment to a 4-in-1 classroom to be built for Haku Day High School and a promise to build education facilities in all nine districts of Bougainville.
"We are going to build infrastructure in all the districts in Bougainville," he said, stating his goal to ensure every child has a proper chance at learning.
"I believe in cooperation. Cooperation. Partnership... It's very important for us all to work together to serve our people in improving education,” Minister Siune added.
The 35th SEOC hosted in Bougainville was officially closed on Thursday this week. The 37th SEOC will be hosted by Eastern Highlands Province in 2027.
