Papua New Guinea grapples with appointments, education funding, and historical practices

Papua New Guinea faces a complex web of challenges, from questionable government appointments to the need for robust university funding. The article "PNG Road to Success" questions the government's recent appointments to senior positions, particularly those of individuals with unaddressed dubious records. This raises concerns about potential political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 election, suggesting a focus on rewarding allies rather than merit.

The piece contrasts this with historical practices, referencing primitive dental work performed by Neanderthals and ancient brain surgery in PNG. It cites Professor David Watters' book on trepanning, detailing how "village surgeons" in New Ireland treated skull injuries using obsidian tools, with many patients surviving these procedures, apparently free of charge.

“

How to succeed? Study hard, work hard , get a job and pay your taxes. And the government will redistribute your money to someone who did none of the above!

A significant focus is placed on the critical need to grow and fund Papua New Guinea's university sector. The article argues that current government funding is insufficient, hindering tertiary institutions from reaching their potential due to a lack of money for maintenance and development. It suggests universities must explore alternative investment and philanthropic avenues to achieve academic independence.

Comparing PNG's situation to global examples, the article notes that Harvard University alone possesses an endowment fund of $57 billion, exceeding India's entire education budget. This highlights the stark disparity in resources available to higher education institutions worldwide. The piece implicitly questions whether PNG universities are actively seeking such investments or remain content with government dependency, which often comes with strings attached regarding institutional autonomy.

“

First the bone around the injury was chipped away with an obsidian tool. The piece of skull was removed. Any bone fragments were then carefully removed from the brain tissue , the bone plug reinserted and voilá ancient brain surgery. Many cases actually survived . And it was apparently free !