Free education not answer to our woes

 I BELIEVE the current Government has no plans for the influx of students in elementary, primary and high schools since the Tuition Fee Free (TFF) education policy was implemented. 

Our universities and colleges cannot accept them all. 

They may score good grades and meet the required grade point average but they only the top students will enter the universities and colleges while the majority will join the ever-increasing school leavers population. 

The Government should have considered the side effects of the TFF policy before implementing it. 

There should be more lecture rooms, staff houses, dormitories, dining halls, libraries and other necessary infrastructures to cater the influx of students. 

In the University of Papua New Guinea and University of Technology, which are the premier tertiary institutions, the current infrastructure cannot hold the increasing number of students. The same scenario is true for all other tertiary institutions.  

The policy has left a large number of school leavers back in the villages working in gardens and subsistence farming. 

The TFF policy has also resulted in unemployment for many graduates. 

There are many students graduating every year but they are not being employed. They have excellent grades and meet all standard requirements but there are no job opportunities for everyone. 

The Government should create employment opportunities and engage them when the graduate. 

However, they are not succeeding in achieving the objective of the TFF policy. 

Our graduates have fresh skills and knowledge to contribute meaningfully to the development of this nation. They should be given the opportunities to work.

PNG has many  well educated professionals but since the Government is not utilizing them, they have gone abroad to find work. 

Our current unemployment rate is high with many graduates roaming the streets which is making a mockery of the TFF policy. 

Free education will educate every student but there are no jobs for all. Only the lucky few will be employed. 

It is a very serious issue that the Government needs to look at it rather than focusing on free education.

Gibson Mas

UPNG, Waigani