Classes back at UPNG

CLASSES at the University of PNG are expected to resume next month following talks between the Government, university council and stakeholders.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday stressed that many students wanted to complete the 2016 academic year.
“We need to get the students back into class and give them every chance to complete their studies for the year,” he said in a statement.
“There are still a number of details that must be discussed and resolved. But if all parties come to the table with the right attitude, the Government is committed to resuming the academic year at UPNG.
“We also have thousands of UPNG students who should be in class right now, as well as a number of people who are employed by the university who are missing out on work and income.
“The knock-on effect of not resuming the academic year is costly in terms of the impost on families, problems for current and future students and concerns for segments of the economy who were expecting to employ new graduates.”

“We have a fresh intake of students graduating from high school at the end of this year who must be given their chance to study at university.”
On July 5, the UPNG council terminated all academic teaching and learning activities for 2016 on July 5 following weeks of class boycotts and unrest by some students.
The council said then the environment was not suitable “for the process of learning and teaching”.
O’Neill yesterday warned that if classes were to resume, “this should only be open to students who are committed to their education”.
“Any student who wants to return to class at UPNG must do so with the attitude that they want to study, that they want to be there and work to complete their education and move on to the workforce,” he said.
Newly appointed Research, Science and Technology Minister Francis Marus broke the news yesterday morning after officially taking over the ministry from Malakai Tabar in Port Moresby.
“From the information given by (UPNG) Chancellor Nicholas Mann and Vice-Chancellor Professor Albert Mellam, the UPNG council has decided to resurrect the 2016 academic year (from September),” Marus said.
The University of Goroka and University of Technology, which were also affected by class boycotts and student unrest, are expected to be reopened soon.
The plan is to complete four semesters between September 2016 and November 2017.