A Little History

Aiyura Primary School began in 1956 in an old office at the Aiyura Agricultural Station.  Later, seven acres were acquired by the Education Department and the school was located on this site one and a half miles from Ukarumpa.  At first, it was an administration school and the staff were members of the T.P.N.G. Public Service.  In 1966, 90% of the children attending the Aiyura A School came from SIL. In 1973, the school became private. It was recognized by the Education Department and thus no salaries were received by the staff. The school remained government until 1977 when the status of the school changed to that of a permitted private school.

By the early 1960s the need for secondary education for the missionary children was clearly evident. Consequently, Ukarumpa High School was established in 1962, with five students and one teacher, as a supervised correspondence centre.

As the enrolment increased, trained and qualified staff assumed more of the teaching responsibility. Grades 7 to 10 were fully staffed by 1970, as well as grades 11 and 12 for American students.

The Higher School Certificate program (from New South Wales, Australia ) was added in 1973, making UIS a complete secondary school for Australian and other British Commonwealth students.

In 1976, a Middle School, involving grades 7 and 8, was initiated.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (U.S.A.) accredited the school in 1978.

In the early 1980s consideration was given to providing courses which could prepare students for the General Certificate of Education examinations (GCE, O-Levels) offered by the University of London. Although formal O-Level classes have not been offered since 1981, UIS students continue to sit for these exams. Additional tutoring outside of school is usually available.

The Papua New Guinea National Department of Education approves the school for instruction through the School Certificate (Year 10).

Throughout the history of the school there has been an emphasis on preparing students for re-entry to their home country education systems. This has led to a steady broadening of the curriculum and the inclusion of Mother Tongue Studies when needed and staffing permitted.

In 1996 the primary and secondary campuses were incorporated into one school to facilitate an articulated K- 12 curriculum under the common name of Ukarumpa International School .

In 1997 a Finnish School was established here with 11 students.

Now Ukarumpa International School serves a student body of approximately 150 in Kindergarten through grade 6 and approximately 130 in 7-12.  Approximately 80% of the students are missionary kids of members or area mission groups. There are 15 nationalities represented in the school with the majority being students from North America.

To see more detailed information, click for a zip or a pdf of the latest WASC Focus on Learning (FoL) Report document prepared for our last WASC Self Study.

Mission Statement

Ukarumpa International School exists to provide, in partnership with parents, a well-rounded educational program which is Christ-centred, academically excellent, culturally sensitive, and cognisant of individual personalities, needs and gifts.

Philosophy of Education

We seek to provide an education that is Christ-centred because we believe that God’s truth is the foundation of all truth. We believe that God created, loves, and desires fellowship with each student. Only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can a student fulfil God’s plan for his/her life and achieve his/her maximum potential.

We seek to provide education that is academically excellent because we believe each student should acquire basic skills, knowledge, and understanding in each discipline. The curriculum should provide depth and width of exposure and experience while maintaining a Christian perspective. The school should be responsive to the dynamic, rapid changes in our world through constant, constructive re-evaluation of our program and teaching methods.

We seek to provide an education that is culturally sensitive because our students come from a wide variety of home cultures, each of which has its own important traditions and values. We desire to foster an appreciation of these cultures, especially those of Papua New Guinea .

We seek to provide an education that is cognisant of individual personalities, needs and gifts because we believe each student has dignity and worth, and is divinely equipped with a unique set of abilities and potentialities to be developed. We endeavour to utilise the staff and the variety of other resources God has given us to meet as many student needs as possible, trusting Him to lead and guide us.

We believe that God has given parents the primary responsibility of training their children for Him, and that the co-operation of school, family, community and other educational agencies will enhance the development of wholesome attitudes and worthwhile goals in the student’s life.

We believe that as an extension of the God-given authority of parents, the teacher should seek to be an example, friend and leader, as well as instructor, and strive to be aware of the personalities, needs, capabilities, and concerns of his/her students, individually and collectively. The teacher is entitled to the respect and co-operation of the students, administration, and parents as he/she seeks to fulfil these responsibilities.

We believe that as we apply these principles God will cause our students to grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually so that they may become productive, responsible citizens with a Biblical worldview, desiring to see the lost won for Christ.