West Sepik Division of Education

Click here to read more.

Geography

The geography of the province ranges from coastal lowland at sea level to the highest mountain peak at 4015 meters. The coastal lowland varies from sandy beaches in the east to a rocky coastline towards the PNGIndonesian Border. There are pockets of swampy areas and several fast flowing rivers between Vanimo and Aitape. The highland areas of the province are characterised by some of highest peaks in the country found in the Star Mountains in Telefomin District, the Torricelli Range dividing Aitape, Lumi and Nuku areas, and the Bewani Range separating Vanimo, Green River and Bewani areas.

The difficult and harsh geography of the province has presented, and will continue to pose, major constraints and challenges for socio-economic development of the province. The low development indicators in education, health, economic activities and infrastructure development in the province have been as a result of such geographical conditions.

Demography

Sandaun is among 8 other provinces, which have populations between 150,000 to 200,000 in the 2000 National Census preliminary figures released in May 2001 by the National Statistical Office.

The total provincial population comprised of 95,775 male and 90,015 female, with a ratio of 106 males to 100 females. The population density for the province is 5 persons per square kilometres with an average household size of 5.5 persons. The average annual population growth rate since 1980 is 2.4%. From the total provincial population, Aitape/Lumi has the highest population at 29%.

Economy

The population is largely rural based, with about 92% living in rural areas and 8% in urban areas. The provincial economy is largely a subsistence economy. The Province is blessed with natural resources such as gold, copper, oil, timber and marine resources which have potential to drive the future economy of the province. The discovery of these natural resources has attracted major overseas interest, and development of these resources has high investment potential which would contribute significantly to the long-term development of the Provincial economy.

Apart from the natural resources, the Province has high potential for major agricultural development in the main cash crops of cocoa, coffee, vanilla, rubber, oil palm, rice and copra. The potential for the development of these crops are mostly in Aitape, Lumi and Nuku areas with some potential for Vanimo area particularly the oil palm development in the Bewani area and vegetable supply in the Telefomin district.