Is Homeschooling Legal in Papua New Guinea?

Papua New Guinea does not always use the term “homeschooling” the way some countries do, and the law may not describe “homeschooling” as a defined category. Papua New Guinea is often described as not enforcing compulsory education in the same structured way many countries do, so independent home education is not widely restricted in practice. Many families choose this approach, particularly in rural communities or where local school access is limited.

>> For families who want an official home-based pathway within the national system, PNG’s Department of Education offers FODE, commonly described as “school at home.”

Understanding the Education Framework in Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea, families generally follow one of two practical pathways.

Pathway A: Independent Home Education (Parent-Directed Learning)

This is the most common reality for many families in remote settings (including many missionary households). Because local oversight and school access differ widely, families typically focus on strong curriculum + clear records of progress (attendance, grades, work samples, course lists). While documentation may not be formally required, good records serve multiple purposes: they keep learning organized, provide proof of work if your child later transitions to a school, and demonstrate responsible educational practice if any local contacts inquire.

Pathway B: FODE (Flexible Open & Distance Education — “School at Home”)

FODE is a formal distance-education option under PNG’s national education system, most commonly used for secondary-level studies (Grades 7–12). It is supported through FODE centres that guide enrollment steps and learning expectations.

What to do first: Decide whether your family needs an official distance-education pathway (often for secondary-level recognition) or whether you are educating independently due to location and circumstances. Then confirm local expectations with the nearest education contacts available to you.

Start Here: What You Get With SchoolhouseTeachers.com

A SchoolhouseTeachers.com membership is built to help you do two things well:

• Teach with confidence using complete, Christ-centered PreK–12 curriculum (roughly equivalent to primary through secondary education)
• Document with confidence using simple tools that keep records clear and ready if you’re ever asked for proof

Everything Families Need—In One Membership:

Here’s what families rely on most for planning, teaching, and record keeping:

• COMPLETE PreK–12 CURRICULUM: Core subjects, electives, and Bible-based studies—all accessible under one family membership.
• EDUCATION PLAN BUILDER: Create a clear education plan you can save for your records and share if a local authority requests a written plan.
• RECORDS CENTER TOOLS: Helpful planning and documentation tools designed to keep your records organized and clear.
• SCHOOLHOUSE GRADEBOOK: Printable templates for tracking grades, attendance, and reports.
• APPLECORE RECORD KEEPING: Track attendance, grades, and progress online; generate report cards and other documentation as needed. Transcript generation is available to annual and lifetime members.
• PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT: Organize work samples, writing assignments, reading lists, and proof of learning in one place.
• LETTER TEMPLATES (Use Only If Requested Locally): Professionally formatted templates that can help you communicate clearly with a school or education office when notice or confirmation is requested.

Note on language: Records Center tools and templates are presented in English and may be used as a model for families preparing documentation in their own language, according to local requirements.

Homeschool Record Keeping in 3 Simple Steps

Think: Confirm → Plan → Track

1Confirm Your Local Situation

Because PNG is highly local in practice, start by confirming what applies to your family:

• Is your child currently enrolled in a local school? If yes, ask what notice or withdrawal procedure is expected before transitioning to home education.
• Do you need an official distance-education pathway for secondary-level recognition? If yes, ask about FODE and the nearest centre.
• If you are educating independently, ask if there are any local expectations. Regardless, keep clear attendance, grades, and work samples on file—it demonstrates diligence and eases any future transitions.

2Build a Simple Education Plan

Use the Education Plan Builder to:

• list the courses you’re using
• include outside resources (optional)
• describe how learning will be assessed
• save a clean plan for your records

3Track Progress as You Go

Use Applecore + Portfolio tools to keep documentation calm and simple:

• attendance tracking
• grades and progress notes
• report cards and completion records
• organized work samples and course evidence

Note: Expectations and enforcement can vary widely by location and circumstance. Always follow any guidance given by the education contacts who are relevant to your area and your child’s status.

When You Need Local Answers

If you’re unsure where to start, ask the nearest education contact available to you:

• “If my child is currently enrolled, what withdrawal or notice procedure is expected before we educate at home?”
• “Is FODE available in our province, and what does enrollment require at the nearest centre (for secondary-level studies)?”
• “If we are educating independently, are there any local expectations for record keeping?”
• “What documentation would you want if we later transition back into a local school?”

Final Thoughts

Educating at home in Papua New Guinea is possible—and you don’t have to piece everything together on your own. With complete PreK–Grade 12 courses, a simple Education Plan Builder, clear record-keeping tools, and ESL built into your membership, you can teach confidently and document calmly—whether your family is educating independently or using an official distance-learning pathway.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

Let’s get started!

Blessings,

The SchoolhouseTeachers.com Team

Get Everything You Need—Join Today!

By becoming a SchoolhouseTeachers.com member, you’ll gain access to:

✔ THE EDUCATION PLAN BUILDER: Create and download a structured homeschool plan.
✔ THE LETTER OF INTENT TEMPLATE: Draft and download a formal homeschool registration letter.
✔ THE FULL CURRICULUM LIBRARY: Choose from 100s of courses for all subjects from PreK to Grade 12.
✔ APPLECORE RECORD KEEPING: Track assessments, grades, and progress in one place.

*Annual & Lifetime Members Only: Gain access to transcript generation to document high school coursework for college admissions.

Join today and homeschool with confidence!