PNG's Northern Province Launches 31st National Literacy Week

Northern Province joined the rest of Papua New Guinea in marking a major milestone on the education calendar as the 31st National Literacy Week was formally launched yesterday, Monday, August 31, 2026.

This year's celebration carries the theme "Reading Today, Leading Tomorrow," setting the tone for a week of activities aimed at strengthening literacy skills across communities in the province.

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The National Department of Education, working alongside the Northern Provincial Literacy Committee and church partners, is coordinating the week-long program of events.

A key feature of this year's celebrations will see the Literacy Torch carried through all three districts of the province, stopping at schools and church-run literacy programs along the way. Among the venues on the route are the Katima Literacy Group in Sohe District and Sorovi Primary School in Popondetta District, before the torch makes its way to Ijivitari District.

It is there that the celebrations will draw to a close, with the torch formally handed over to mark the beginning of preparations for the next host province.

Organisers noted that the timing of National Literacy Week activities ties in with International Literacy Day, observed globally on September 8 each year, a day set aside to recognise the value of reading, literacy and continuous learning in building stronger individuals and communities.

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