Buk bilong Pikinini is proud to have Oxford University Press as a major donor of new books, but also as an important sponsor of an upcoming library in the Gerehu settlement of Port Moresby. The Oxford University Pacific team has worked assiduously for many years to bring high quality books to Papua New Guinea, and shares the passion with Buk bilong Pikinini of making children in PNG happy, well-informed readers.

This article describes Oxford University Press’ history and philosophy in PNG.

Oxford University Press is the oldest, largest and most prestigious university press in the world. It is not a commercial company; it is a department of the Oxford University which has been incorporated in the United Kingdom since 1571. The Press furthers the University’s objectives of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.

 Oxford University Press has no shareholders – its profits are reinvested in publishing, including the publishing of works of academic and educational importance, which could not be published commercially.

 The publishing of school textbooks at primary level has long been part of Oxford University Press’ publishing strategy, in the United Kingdom, in Australia and New Zealand, and in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific. Oxford University Press was established in Australia in 1908 and has a remit for local publishing in the Australasian and Pacific region.

Fundamental to the Press’ objectives is the commitment to innovative, high quality and culturally appropriate resources for schools worldwide. This is evidenced by its commitment to and support of local publishing programmes in countries as diverse as Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Southern Africa, Canada and the United Kingdom. In many developing nations materials are developed in partnership with aid agencies. Noteworthy projects include atlases, dictionaries, literacy and numeracy programmes, textbooks and other teaching resources across the curriculum at primary and secondary level. 

Oxford has been publishing for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific for over sixty years, beginning with the Oxford English Course for Papua New Guinea in the 1950s. In terms of the number of years and the quantity and quality of resources for PNG, the commitment of OUP to PNG publishing is unrivalled. The Pacific Series is an early example. Comprising over sixty components, it was, and still remains, the only complete course ever designed to teach English to children of the Pacific islands whose mother tongue is not English

The distinguishing characteristics of Oxford as a university press and its preparedness to commit to educational publishing in markets which might not be considered to be commercially worthwhile, has found ready expression in Papua New Guinea where there is a palpable hunger for books. PNG is not an easy country in which to operate. There is little in the way of commercial infrastructure, there is no tradition of reading, there is only one stock-holding bookshop and most of the funding for books comes from organizations such as AusAID, Europe and Union and World Bank. The distribution of books is fraught with almost insurmountable obstacles.

Nonetheless, the range of primary schoolbooks for Papua New Guinea published by the Press through the 1980s and ‘90s included atlases and dictionaries, textbooks in the areas of mathematics, health and social studies, and community life. At secondary level, Oxford published dictionaries and an atlas, and the Pacific Writers series which included works by Regis Stella, Sir Ignatius Kilage, Sir Paulius Matane, and the first history of PNG written by a National writer, Professor John Dademo Waiko.

From 1996 to 2000, Oxford established a local office in Port Moresby incorporated as Oxford University Press (PNG) Pty Ltd, employing a Publishing Editor. Since, 2000 Oxford has continued its commitment from the editorial and publishing office in Melbourne. With the introduction of Education Reform it was apparent that a new wave of outcomes-based resources would be vital to help the implementation of the new curriculum. A stream of new books in subjects such as Language, Personal Development, Health Education, Making a Living, Social Science, Science have appeared for primary schools as well as new editions of dictionaries and general resource books; and this stream of new publishing is now being extended into High Schools.

From left Buk bilong Pikinini library manager Leanne Reasson with volunteers Yvonne Henry (supplies and library support) and Fiona Matz (executive). The books from Oxford University Press were put on the shelves in our Goroka library and everyone was very excited by the quality and PNG appropriate content of the donated books. 

A particular aspect of Oxford’s publishing programme over the past twenty years has been the concentrated efforts to develop local writers – and with some success. National names are appearing more and more on the covers of Oxford’s PNG titles. That, and the close consultation with curriculum personnel, and teachers in the field, is helping to ensure that the books are not only correct in content but also culturally appropriate.

The importance of educational publishing in PNG cannot be underestimated. Papua New Guinea is unfathomably wealthy in terms of natural resources – but unless the growing population of young people is well provided for in terms of health and education, the country will never achieve its potential. Good books are a cornerstone of a good educational system. The publication of good books for PNG will continue to be an important role for Oxford University Press in the years ahead.

“Oxford chose to support Buk bilong Pikinini as we considered that this organisation’s objectives – a focus on early learning for the most disadvantaged children in Papua New Guinea-   was worthy of financial support. Many people from Oxford visited the mobile libraries at Lawes Road, Six mile and Goroka and were impressed with not only the set up of these libraries by a team of dedicated women, but also with the educational program run at these libraries. It was evident to all who visited that children were keen to learn and were developing a love of literacy – which will give them a head start as they commence formal schooling.

Irene Sawzak from Oxford University Press with the children at the Six Mile library in Port Moresby. 

Oxford is delighted to financially support the setting up of a new mobile library at Gerehu settlement and we look forward to seeing this library opened in 2010.Oxford will continue to support Buk bilong Pikinini by donating relevant books to upcoming libraries and recently supplied all Buk bilong Pikinini libraries with relevant PNG titles. Congratulations to all at Buk bilong Pikinini  - your dedication in setting up these mobile libraries so that young children experience a love of learning is much admired and Oxford supports you in your future endeavours.”