Don’t take away Tesas

THE introduction of the Higher Education Loan Programme (Help) will help ease the school fee burden on families and students.
This initiative of former prime minister Peter O’Neill, now implemented, will give an opportunity for students from rural areas, to complete their higher education.
However the Tertiary Education Student Assistance Scheme (Tesas) has to be scrapped to make way for Help.
I was lucky enough to have benefited from the Tesas scheme.
My family paid a portion of the fees and the Government paid the rest and provided book allowances.
In my view, the Government has scrapped the scholarship scheme to place the burden of repaying the school fees on the students and their families.
Tesas had a cut off mark for students to be awarded this scholarships.
Students had to work hard to get Tesas.
It was a reward system for students who worked hard.
Will Help make students work hard? I doubt it.
It cost about K10,000 to study at a university in PNG.
If a student studies for four years that amounts to K40,000.
Mind you, this is only for tuition fees, boarding and lodging.
Add on the various book allowances and airfares it could well end up to K100,000 in debts to a student.
What are the chances a uni graduate would get employed six months after completing studies?
With the slow economic growth, high inflation, forex problems affecting businesses, the chances for students to find a job after tertiary studies are slim.
The government should still offer Tesas and offer Help to students who need it.

Mosbi observer