Youth of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow: A Political Rhetoric? A Critique on Employment Opportunities and Challenges for the Out-Of-School Youth in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Youth unemployment and underemployment for the out-of-school has been a contentious issue amongst the top ten challenges confronting successive governments in PNG since 1975. The prevailing illusion that those categories of youth are ably catered for and supported by the traditional social safety nets, and can survive by working on their customary land (about 90% unalienated land) is no longer a reality for many young people. A great majority of them have left school and are still searching for brighter opportunities in life away from the land. Often, they are regarded as the targets of anti-social behaviors and disorderly community make-ups. Governments therefore spend relentless time, efforts and resources to keep them at bay and locked them away to pave the way for societies to function orderly for the sake of those few who are at the helm of power and wealth. Numerous legislative and policy reforms have had no significant impact on the lives and prosperity of that particular target group, apart from the National Youth Movement Programme (NYMP-1980-1990) which will be reflected-on later in this paper.