A shame to see MPs studying at UPNG

 I WOULD like to express my views regarding parliamentarians studying at UPNG.

They are supposed to represent the people who elected them.

Instead of doing that, they are attending classes at UPNG.

MPs should not be using their time to serve the people to do private things such as attending classes.

When they were campaigning, they gave the impression that they are qualified and managed to convince the voters to give them the mandate.

Well, the people voted based on what they saw and heard.

But now we see that MPs lack educational qualifications and they are attending classes to get the ne­cessary papers. 

As elected MPs, they should spend their time concentrating on their electorate, not their studies.

They should have attended classes to get the qualifications before standing for elections.

They should not be studying for their first degree after being elected MPs, regardless of whether they are part time or fulltime students.

They have been elected to serve the interest of the people not to 

spend time in the classroom compe­ting for Gross Average Point (GPA).

I am ashamed to see these MPs carrying school bags loaded with lecture notes.

MPs should not be using the people’s time on their studies.

They should be well-educated, have hands-on experience on a particular profession and are on the ball with the issues affecting the people before being elected into the parliament.

By going to school, MPs give the impression that they lack educational qualification and knowledge.

They may have their arguments to rebut me but there is no logic if they were to do that.

Parliament should now set some guidelines and have procedures in place in terms of educational qualification, age limit, leadership, backgrounds, community standing, etc.

Candidates who want to stand for elections must have these qualifications before they are allowed to contest.

We cannot just elect anybody just because he or she is a good speaker in the community or popular for that matter.

We are electing a person based on the above qualifications and qualities.

Therefore, MPs should be educated before being elected.

Kak Passad

Port Moresby