The background of teaching science in secondary schools in Papua New Guinea is described in order to familiarize readers with the situation at Goroka Teachers' College (GTC) in the early 1980s where it was necessary to attempt to increase educational standards in science. Goroka Teachers' College was the main source of science teachers for secondary schools. A quarter of a century later these initial attempts at reform can be seen to have been a small step in the right direction. [This paper has been published as: Bunker, C. A. and Palmer, W.P. (1984). The Implementation of a Programme for the Improvement of the Academic Knowledge of New Teachers of Science, "International Newsletter on Chemical Education," No 21, June, pp.18-20.]