The Government in Papua New Guinea is aiming to provide free schooling to primary school children by 2012.
The Minister of Education James Marabe says about 47 percent of children in PNG are not currently enrolled in school because most parents are struggling to meet school fee payments.
Mr Marabe says cabinet has agreed in principle to provide free education for children from grade one to grade eight and says it will be achieved through a gradual process.
"For instance, I'm looking at next year, we might subsidise close to fifty percent of school fees from elementary to grade eight. And in 2011 we might subsidise seventy percent of school fees. And by 2012 we might fully pay all the school fees from elementary to grade eight."
James Marabe says the cost of the providing free schooling by 2012 may reach one billion Kina.
