Gobo all-girls School of Excellence approved for Jimi district

The Teaching Service Commission has approved the establishment of the Gobo All-Girls School of Excellence in Jimi District, Jiwaka Province, with operations set to begin in the 2026 academic year.

TSC Commissioner for Operations, Maini Mike Ugaia, confirmed the approval of 20 teaching positions for the school, which will focus on specialized science education for female students.

The positions will be classified under the Secondary Salary Structure and become effective from January 1, 2026.

“This approval is to cater for science specialist learning for all girls in the province and across the country, starting with the first Grade 11 intakes in 2026,” Mr. Ugaia said.

The school, initiated through the support of Civil Aviation Minister and Jimi MP Wake Goi, aims to strengthen opportunities for academically performing female students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM] fields.

According to TSC, the teaching positions will be reclassified and allocated under the minimum secondary school structure, ensuring alignment with the government’s 1.6.6 education structure.

Authorities within the Provincial and National Education Boards have also been directed to comply with all admission and deployment requirements in preparation for the school’s opening.

Ugaia urged the local community in Gobo to support and look after teachers when they begin serving in the area.

“Teachers will be serving in your community, so it is important that they are cared for,” he said.

The Student Selection Board has also been instructed to ensure a fair and merit-based process when selecting high-performing female science students for enrollment.

Once operational, Gobo school will become a flagship institution for advancing girls’ education in Jiwaka and contribute to building a stronger pipeline of women in science and technology across Papua New Guinea.