Provinces, parents urged to assist self-sponsored students

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, August 21, 2016 (PNG)

 

MINISTER for Higher Education, Research Science and Technology, Francis Marus has urged provincial governments and parents to assist self-sponsored students of affected universities in the resumption of the academic year.

This follows queries by Milne Bay Governor Titus Philemon on the bearing of cost of returning to the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby and the University of Technology in Lae.

“We are aware that the HECAS, TESES (Government scholarships) students tickets have already being provided to the department of higher education.”

“We are concerned on the self-sponsored students. How will they afford to return for classes?”

“Can the minister guarantee the safety of the students returning back to the universities?” Governor Philemon asked.

While stating measures to protect the students and institutions concern from what he terms as outside influences- the minister also informed parliament of steps taken by student factions to settle their grievances.

“So the guarantee of safety is there. Police are currently maintained in campus to deter any outside influences that are trying to come and deter the good resumption of the academic year is done amicably.”

“I have made a request to our respective provinces to assist our students to get them back to class because of circumstances like this that is not of our making but has happened.”

“But I am also appealing to our parents to see the significance of education and make sure that they find and assist in whatever cheapest means of transport- they must bring them back to class.”