Hundreds of secondary students graduate along the Kokoda Track

Last week, Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF), an Australian development NGO, celebrated the graduation of students from the Mt Koiari satellite FODE Centre and Kokoda FODE College, located in the most remote FODE locations in Central and Oro Province. This critical education initiative prioritises students committed to becoming teachers or healthcare workers and provides fee-free, second-chance high school education pathways to early school leavers wishing to matriculate at a Grade 12 level.

The Kokoda College celebrated its largest-ever graduating cohort with 185 students graduating; including 72 students reaching the Grade 12 level. There were history-making scenes at the Mt Koiari FODE Centre in Manari, who celebrated the graduation of 38 students, marking the first Grade 12 graduation on the Kokoda Track. 

“We were so proud to witness the graduations of over 200 students across Kokoda and Mt Koiari last week,” said Dr Genevieve Nelson, KTF CEO. “These students have sacrificed so much and worked tirelessly to complete their FODE studies, whilst balancing commitments and responsibilities in order to dedicate time to their studies. We are delighted to see the high results from many of our students.”

Many of our graduates have achieved the results needed to gain entry to Teachers Colleges or Schools of Nursing and are being supported to pursue tertiary studies, creating a pipeline of essential teachers and healthcare workers into these remote communities, where they are desperately needed.

The Mt Koiari and Kokoda Colleges are generously supported by a range of partners, including the Australian and PNG Governments and key donors in Australia. The Kokoda College graduation ceremony was attended by special guests including the Honourable Gary Juffa MP, the Governor of Oro Province, the Australian High Commissioner to PNG His Excellency John Feakes, and the Oro Provincial Administrator, Trevor Magei; alongside KTF’s CEO, Dr Genevieve Nelson.

Effectively delivered FODE programs are key for bringing education to the 85% of the PNG population that live in rural and remote areas that have missed out on traditional high school education pathways. Bringing education to these remote communities comes with numerous logistical and operational challenges, resulting from the mountainous terrain, dense rainforest and raging rivers as well as the challenging wet and dry seasons that increase the inaccessibility of remote regions. However, KTF has successfully navigated these barriers to provide essential educational pathways to these remote communities that are often left behind.

With a strong bond of mateship forged from the selfless help given to our diggers during the Kokoda Campaign and other WWII battlefields right across PNG, KTF seeks to keep the spirit of Kokoda alive by holding out a hand to our closest neighbour. KTF is dedicated to delivering effective education programs across PNG that improve development outcomes in a range of areas and transform lives, livelihoods and futures.

Kokoda College and Mt Koiari are supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program via the Kokoda Initiative.