Paying fees for all university students, a ‘difficult decision, says PNG Higher Education Minister8/10/2023
![]() TUITION fees for all students attending universities in the country can be paid for by the Papua New Guinea Government, Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Don Polye says. However, Polye noted that it would be “a challenging decision” for the Government to make if it paid the fees of students attending both public and private universities as it would mean sacrificing in other areas most likely the lower education system. “That is not impossible but it will require some sacrifices in those areas to meet the 100 per cent of fees abolished at the university level.
“If we do abolish (university fees) then we will need approximately K600 million to pay for all the higher education university students. “I established a chancellor and vice-chancellor committee to work to address this very issue and instructed them to give me a five-year budget plan for the universities first and then look at technical and vocational education training institutions after that to address this issue. “By this week, I will have all the budget documents in and we will make observations,” he said. Polye said this in response to questions raised by North Waghi MP Benjamin Mul in Parliament yesterday. “Nowadays, parents are finding it very hard to find school fees to pay for the students who are attending universities and other tertiary institutions,” said Mul, who is also founder and director of the Waigani Christian College in Port Moresby. “The fees being charged are more than K10,000 and just think of a parent in the village who cannot afford to pay this type of fee every year for four or five years. “Can you draw up a structure or plan to ask the Government to subsidise 100 per cent of the fees for students in tertiary institutions?” He also asked Polye on the issue of University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) officials involved in cash-for-grades allegations and the findings of the investigation. “UPNG staff selling marks for money is a very sensitive issue,” Polye said. “I directed the UPNG management to investigate it. “There is a systematic failure that that one or two have found as a loophole and abused. “I will be addressing these issues step by step to find lasting solutions.” The National / PNG Education News Also read Comments are closed.
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