Over ten female students at the Gaulim Teachers College in East New Britain have been forced to deregister due to pregnancy.
The students were sent back to their own provinces using the money they paid as their tuition fees.
A few male students were also deregistered on alcohol cases. The current student population is now six hundred and ninety four but the administration believes there are students residing on campus illegally.
Gaulim Teachers College is a United Church Agency Institution initially established by the Methodist church in 1960.
Its current female population is slightly above the male population.
Because the institution is administrated under Church principles, the college deregisters an average of 15 pregnant students yearly.
Once a student is found pregnant, she is asked to leave the school ground immediately so she can receive proper nourishment at home.
This is an ongoing process and other pregnant students are expected to deregister soon.
The male students who are responsible for the pregnancies are also asked to accept the responsibility and leave the campus.
Fortunately, for the students, under the new government’s policy, the Lukautim Pikinini Act, the students will return for studies after two years, provided that they have a marriage certificate.
Meanwhile, students who fall pregnant at government-run institutions like the University of Papua New Guinea and University Technology in Lae, continue to attend classes up until the time of delivery.
