Fees will not rise, says chancellor

University of Goroka chancellor Joseph Sukwianomb says there will be no fee hike for students next year.
He announced this after a two-day council meeting last week.
Members decided that this decision be taken as a token of appreciation to Government for increasing grants this year.
This is unlike past years and the fact that major utilities bills incurred were taken care of by the Government.
Sukwianomb said that it was a huge relief for the university that Government departments such as Treasury and Planning, which were present at the meeting, would shoulder the responsibility of paying for the water, power, sewerage and telecommunications.
“This is against the tough economic backdrop being faced by parents, sponsors, provincial governments and departments paying fees for students here, over and above our expectations,” Sukwianomb said.
“In gratitude to the Government and all stakeholders concerned, including parents, we have decided now that we will not impose any fee hike next year.”
However, the normal K25 for provisional teacher registration certificate printing cost needed for teaching and gown costs would remain.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Musawe Sinebare said another decision reached was to give contract academic staff an adjustment in salary on top of discrepancies not paid since 2012.
“This is not a pay increase but salary adjustment that has been denied them since 2012 – 2016,” he said.
“The academic staff have been underpaid since 2012. A Government grant awarded in 2018 is now applied to academic staff getting an increment backdated to only 2016 till now.”
Simebare said a backdate for the period 2012-2016 was still pending.
Another new development will be the new medical school which will be called University of Goroka Medical School and Teaching Hospital.
Sinebare said a technical working team had already been established and had been in consultation with all stakeholders in the medical field.
He said positive reports had been received showing support for the medical school.
Simebare said that based on the reports and analysis by those in authority, seed funding could then be made available.