Parents of students from the Kerema Open electorate will have less to worry about in terms of paying their children school fees this year.
A K1.5 million cheque presentation from the electorate’s District Service Improvement Program (DSIP) funds will go towards this cause.
This is part of the electorate’s Tertiary Students School Fee Assistance Scheme initiated to develop its human resource.
Before the cheque presentation by various institutional representatives, Kerema Student Leader Paul Toru expressed students concerns to their member, Richard Mendani.
He said students have been faced with the challenges of acquiring stationary and also limited infrastructure for them in respective institutions.
And this initiative by their MP is a great support towards human resource development of the province.
Speaking during the event Mendani said educating young elites is a meaningful contribution to the district and the country.
“My board believe that a well-trained and educated elite can make meaningful contributions towards not only Kerema District but the rest of Papua New Guinea,” he says.
However, given the country’s financial crisis, Kerema Provincial Administration will be responsible only in core areas.
75 per cent of the scheme will primarily go towards their school fees.
The program is part of the K10 million DSIP funds initiated in 2014, which this year was increased to K2 million.
From the K2 million, only K1.5 million is budgeted for the Tertiary Students School Fee assistance program.
“This year we have increase the budget up to K1.5 million following the approval of a submission by Kerema District Development Authority.
My board was able to pledge the expenditure towards the tertiary assistance scheme,” he said.
He said government and parents should take responsibility by developing young people because the district needs them for change.
Representing all the institutions present to receive the cheque, Mapex Training Institute Principal Alphonse Foimae Junior said some members tend to realise the need for change to happen in districts and provinces, especially in learning skills that will boost up competency of our young leaders.
