PNG Schools Shorten Hours Amid El Niño Drought
Recent Developments
012026-09-22: PNG's Education Department said 1,029 schools were drought-critical, 1,267 drought-alert, and 1,793 drought-watch under the national ENSO response plan.
022026-09-28: Madang urban schools were reported to be facing possible early closure as El Niño drought conditions persisted.
032026-09-29: Schools in North Bougainville moved to half-day instruction, while East New Britain scaled down classes and suspended some early childhood centres because of severe water shortages.
Interventions
- Education Department emergency guidelines directing reduced timetables, suspension of outdoor activities, and prioritised drinking water for schools in drought-affected areas.
- A national Education Department taskforce established to coordinate measures to reduce drought impacts on teaching and learning during the 2026 examination period.
- Provincial school directives in Bougainville, East New Britain, and Madang that shorten school days and adjust activities to protect students from heat and water shortages.
What Works
- Reduced timetables and half-day classes can keep schooling going when heat and water shortages make full-day attendance unsafe.
- Suspending outdoor activities and protecting access to safe drinking water reduces heat stress and dehydration risks for students and staff.
- Home-study packs and exam-focused continuity planning help preserve learning during temporary closures or shortened schedules.
How to Help
- Donate to organizations supporting drought relief, school water access, and education continuity in Papua New Guinea.
- Support local and international NGOs working on water, sanitation, and school resilience in drought-hit provinces.
- Advocate for emergency education funding and drought response support for affected PNG provinces through elected representatives and aid channels.
Make an Impact
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Verified Organizations
Organizations Helping(4)
UNICEF addresses drought-driven school disruption by improving water, sanitation, and hygiene in schools, finalizing school WASH standards and guidelines, and helping design and install climate-resilient water supply systems so schools can keep operating safely during drought conditions.
World Vision supports school- and community-level disaster preparedness in Madang and other vulnerable areas by training teachers and students on how to cope with slow-onset disasters like drought, developing school disaster preparedness plans, and strengthening local response capacity so learning can continue during emergencies.
The department is directing schools in drought-affected areas to implement emergency continuity measures, including reduced timetables to avoid peak heat, home-based study packs, drinking water provision, cooling areas, and coordination with provincial emergency committees to secure emergency water supplies.
CARE responds to drought impacts by assessing schools and community water sources, then carrying out small-scale repairs and extensions of water facilities so schools and nearby communities can maintain water access during prolonged dry periods.
