Former Morobe Provincial Education Program Advisor Keith Jiram is now ELCPNG Education Secretary, starting January 5, 2026, for a three-year term (2026–2028).
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) has appointed a new Education Secretary who resumed duty on January 5, 2026.
The new Education Secretary is Keith Jiram, a senior education officer who has held various senior roles with the Morobe Provincial Administration, particularly in the Morobe Education Division, where he served as Provincial Education Advisor for five years.
Mr Jiram takes over from Daniel Suan, who served as National Lutheran Education Secretary from 2022 to 2024 and continued to act in the position last year until his replacement was appointed this year.
ELCPNG General Secretary Bernard Kaisom thanked Mr Suan for his service to the church and its agency schools during his term in office.
Mr Kaisom said that under Mr Suan’s leadership, many new initiatives were started, particularly in the areas of Early Childhood Education, Flexible and Distance Education, the Rainbow Program, agency school fees, and others.
He said Mr Suan laid the foundation for more work to be done, and with Mr Jiram’s appointment, the church has confidence in his experience to guide and provide advice for further education services that the church requires.
“The areas that our new Education Secretary will consider include reviving the District Lutheran Education Boards and the National Lutheran Education Board so they are in place and functioning, taking ownership of the teachers’ appointment process, establishing new agency schools, and continuing other programs and discussions started by the former secretary.”
“Mr Jiram’s appointment is for three years, from 2026 to 2028, and my office will provide the support needed to ensure our Education Division functions effectively and delivers its services to our people,” Mr Kaisom said.
Newly appointed Education Secretary Keith Jiram expressed gratitude to the church and the Church Council for placing their trust in him.
Mr Jiram said he is not new to the church, as he grew up in it, and serving the church has long been his desire to give back.
He said his grandparents and parents were faithful Lutheran servants who served as teachers at the Yabim District Tokples Skul during the early evangelism period.
He said that with the experience, knowledge, skills, and networks he has gained, his priority is to restore confidence in the Office of the Education Secretary and ensure it is functional and operational.
“I want to establish strong teamwork with my program officers so they can provide executive and administrative advice on how best we can deliver the services expected from us,” Mr Jiram said.
Mr Jiram said that over the years the church has lost contact with many of its agency schools, with concerns raised about teacher appointments, postings, inspections, teachers from other denominations taking senior roles in Lutheran schools, and non-performing Lutheran teachers remaining in Lutheran schools.
He said a 13-point Way Forward document has already been prepared for implementation, outlining key target areas to focus on in strengthening education services delivered by ELCPNG across the country.
