Govt staff study at university

 By MIRIAM MALAWA

THE Department of Finance, in synergy with the University of Papua New Guinea, has launched a new degree programme for the finance, treasury and planning staff to undergo professional studies. 

The programme, which would be under the School of Business, would see first batch of 25 staff to take up bachelor in accounting and public policy management  starting today.

Finance Secretary, Ken Ngangan said the staff had a huge responsibility to manage public funds and it was through development of staff’s skills that funds could be managed effectively. 

 “Expectation is on us to manage the public finance well so that the finance that we meet will actually meet the intended target and that we get the required outcome,” he said.

“So it is important that we are equipped to be able to serve to our purpose.”  

Ngangan said the department could not expect its employees to perform to its expectation if staff were not fully equipped and in tune with the changes of technology, processes and systems.

He said one reason why the department had invested in the development of its staff was because a lot of accounting graduates have been attracted to the private sector and not many enter the public sector.

He said that had triggered them to equip those human resources available to meet the demands. 

 “We will still lack that attraction of younger people coming in to work in the public sector and it is one of the reasons why we are developing our current staff in finance, treasury and planning,” Ngangan said. 

UPNG vice-chancellor, Albert Mellam thanked Ngangan in developing human resources, saying it was important. 

“The only way you can delivery effective financial service is to have a highly-skill and talented work force and appropriately resource the frame work that you have put in place to deliver financial services,” Ngangan said. 

He said the universities contribution was limited in assisting its stakeholders in the areas of appropriately skill human resource so that they have the knowledge based to deliver effective services.