Funding for polytechnic school inadequate: Official

THE K100,000 yearly allocation to the National Polytechnic Institute of PNG in Lae for operations catering six trade courses and 1500 students is inadequate, an official says.
The institute’s financial controller Emmanuel Mah said the education authorities have yet to determine whether the institute would remain under the Department of Education’s Technical and Vocational Education Training division or be moved to the Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology.
The institution offers six technical trade skills courses including tourism and hospitality, business studies, applied science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, architecture and building and civil engineering.
Mah acknowledged help from districts and corporate sponsorships when receiving a K60,000 cheque in subsidies for Tewae-Siassi students from district project manager Desmond Jacob last week.
He said from the total 1500 students, only 400 benefited from government (HECAS) scholarships while 1100 were self-sponsored.
“Much of our operations rely on corporate and self-sponsorship fees,” Mah said, adding that many of the students were from distant places.