Reform in the financing of higher education in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

The particularities of history, culture, economy and politics of Papua New Guinea and similar Pacific island and other developing nations place strains upon the formulation and implementation of reform in the financing of higher education (and of education in general). There has been progress in reducing unit costs, with favourable implications for the rate-of-return that links higher educational costs and benefits. Funding constraints continue to elicit calls for reform of higher educational financing and for increased student contributions. Failure to communicate human capital analysis and policy implications for improving efficiency, access, and equity in higher education have hindered reform. The analysis focuses on policy implementation of reform in the financing of higher education in Papua New Guinea, and concludes in favour of a shift in financing away from institutions and toward students.