By Jack Lapauve Jr – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The Higher Education Department is prepared to execute the decision by the University of Papua New Guinea Senate to indefinitely suspend the semester and send students home.
This comes as the UPNG Senate conceded a decision to indefinitely suspend the semester, after 3 weeks of boycott.
HERST Secretary, Professor David Kavanamur, says students have breached the scholarship scheme.
“Over 2,000 students are now expected to liaise with the Department to sort out their travel,” said Professor Kavanamur.
“And when the second semester resumes, students will have to pay their own tickets and return to school,” he added.
For the international students, the UPNG Administration is making alternate arrangements for them, however most are confused.
And with classes suspended, Higher Education Science and Research Minister, Malakai Tabar, extended the call to NGOs, politicians and Civil Organisations to leave students alone.
“I call on every group, individual and members of parliament to stay away from the students and let them prioritise their studies as their number reason of being a student,” Minister Tabar said.
The decision to send students home has left UPNG students in despair over expenses they will face.
Most say their return is questionable and most are concerned if Semester 2 will commence or not.
In the meantime, the Higher Education Department pointed out that continuing students need to reapply for the 2017 Scholarship, which there is no guarantee.
