French Polynesia's opposition Tahoeraa Huiraatira has mocked President Oscar Temaru for purportedly citing Papua New Guinea as an example of an independent country to be followed in matters of education.
The party, which is against independence, says French Polynesians are so much better off thanks to the support offered to the students by the French state.
In a statement on its website, it points to PNG's education minister, David Arore, who told parliament that out 800,000 young people only 28,000 students are enlisted in higher education.
It questions how this can be rated as a success.
