Papua New Guinea Bishops Conference general secretary joins National Education Board

The Minister for Education, Lucas Dawa Dekena, has appointed Fr. Lawrence Arockiaraj, General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) in Papua New Guinea and former CBC Education Commission Secretary, as the new representative of the Catholic Church on the National Education Board (NEB) on February 14.

The appointment follows Section 12(2) of the Education Act 1983, as amended in 1995.

In his new role, Fr. Lawrence will represent the Catholic Church on the NEB, ensuring that the interests of Catholic educational institutions are effectively voiced at the national level.

His deep experience in Catholic education will bring valuable guidance and leadership to the board.

Hon. Dekena shared his confidence in Fr. Lawrence’s ability to strengthen the country’s education system and emphasized the need for strong representation from all sectors, particularly Catholic Education.

Fr. Lawrence’s appointment is a key move for the NEB as it continues working on policies that shape and develop Papua New Guinea’s education system.

Throughout his career, Fr. Lawrence has been deeply committed to education.

During the International World Teachers’ Day celebration, he stressed the importance of teachers serving as role models, highlighting that education goes beyond academics and plays a crucial role in shaping students’ character and values.

Fr. Arockiaraj previously served as Vice President of the St. Benedict Campus in Wewak, part of Divine Word University.

He was appointed General Coordinator of the Papal Visit Committee, leading preparations for the Pope’s upcoming visit to Papua New Guinea.