No Public Holiday on 17th April

The Papua New Guinea Department of Education has issued a formal correction regarding the 2026 Education Calendar, clarifying that schools will remain open this Friday, April 17.
In Secretary’s Circular Instruction No: 05/2026, dated April 13, 2026, the Office of the Secretary addressed Provincial Education Advisers, Principals, and Heads of Schools to correct a scheduling error concerning the King's Birthday public holiday.
Correction of Calendar Error The Department confirmed that the inclusion of Friday, April 17, 2026, as a public holiday in the official calendar was "entirely unintentional." Consequently, Friday is designated as a normal working day, and normal classes are expected to continue.

"The Department wishes to clarify that the King's Birthday is not scheduled for this week," the circular stated. "We sincerely regret any confusion this oversight may have caused our schools, teachers, parents, students and partners who use our annual calendar to plan their activities."
Directives for Schools Under section 3.0, "Advice to Schools," the Department issued the following instructions:

• Schools must remain open: All institutions are to maintain normal classes for the duration of the week.
• Attendance: Both teachers and students are expected to be present on Friday, April 17, in accordance with the normal school timetable.
• Communication: Heads of schools are requested to immediately inform all teachers, students, and parents of this correction to ensure classes proceed as planned.

Correct Holiday Date The circular also provided the correct gazetted date for the upcoming public holiday. The King's Birthday is officially scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Commitment to Academic Year Secretary of Education Dr. Uke Kombra signed the directive, emphasizing the Department's dedication to the school term. "The Department of Education remains committed to supporting our schools and ensuring the integrity of the academic year," Dr. Kombra wrote.
The Department thanked all stakeholders for their immediate cooperation and understanding regarding the correction.