When Sabati Mero took her oath of office today, June 18, 2026, she secured a vital voice for women in Papua New Guinea’s education sector.

Sworn in as the Acting Deputy Secretary for Policy and Provincial Services, Mero is now one of just two women on the National Education Board (NEB). Her transition to a full board member gives her a direct hand in shaping the country's upcoming policy landscape.

Reflecting on the appointment, Mero emphasized the importance of having women in the room where major decisions are made.

“It’s an honor and privilege to be a full member. In the last NEB, I was an alternate member, so I thank the Department of Education for recognizing me as one of the only female deputy secretaries to be a full member on the National Education Board. For me, it’s a great opportunity because not only will I represent the State, but I’ll be representing the womenfolk out there."

"As you can see, there’s only two of us. Ms. Pricilla Kare will be representing the civil society organization and especially the women. Having both of us in the National Education Board gives that voice to women, especially, when it comes to decision-making; it’s important to also have women to sit around the table to make those decisions."

With her seat secured, Mero is focused on steering the board through a massive structural overhaul of the school system, aiming to align curriculum changes with institutional restructuring.

“In terms of policy change, we’re implementing the 1-6-6 school structure reforms and also the Standard-Based Curriculum reform and these two reforms go hand in hand and overall, what this board will see through is to ensure that these two reforms take place.”

Over her three-year term, Mero and the board will manage a heavy slate of initiatives. These include expanding early childhood education, integrating Flexible Open and Distance Education (FODE) into secondary schools, and connecting technical and vocational training with academic pathways.

The board will also oversee the department's flagship STEM program, which sends top students to study overseas, alongside handling routine national teacher appointments. It is an ambitious agenda, made more urgent by the upcoming 2027 National General Elections, requiring the board to anchor these reforms today while preparing for future government policies.