Primary education

Letters

IT is beneficial and worthwhile for a developing country like Papua New Guinea to invest in primary education.
It increases the economic and social returns of an individual and enhances the productivity level of a country’s population, thus boosting economic growth.
When children are provided with basic education, they have better chances of improving their life and therefore being able to make better and informed choices.
For example, the first eight years of primary schooling instil basic literacy and numeracy skills which can be applied later in life.
Primary education helps students to easily ascend the ladder of education as they apply the knowledge gained in the first few years of education to get themselves absorbed into higher education. Primary education is a powerful tool applied to combat poverty and reduce child labour in developing countries.
Developing countries are universally poor and globally known for child labour.
Child labour deprives children of their ability to develop their talent fully, resulting in the loss of productivity and exacerbates poverty.
Students can use these skills to seek employment or start their own small business.
Studies suggest that keeping girls longer in schools raises the marriage years (early marriage is common in developing countries like PNG) thus reducing population growth.
Education is a vital ingredient in the development of human capital and economic growth.

Richard Napam Wak,
Port Moresby