Gr 12s await certificates

 By ZACHERY PER

GRADE 12 students from three secondary schools in Chimbu are racing against time to collect their certificates from the Education Department.

Parents of Grade 12 students from Kerowagi, Yaweh Moses and Kondiu secondary schools are raising concerns that the measurement services unit (MSU) of the Education Department has yet to print their children’s certificates.

They said that there was only two weeks left before students who were accepted at the universities and other tertiary institutions  leave for studies. They then would have to produce their certificates before they are enrolled.

The schools had submitted their internal assessments of the core-subjects in advance and the student certificates should have been issued already.

However, the education division in Kundiawa, when contacted, confirmed electricity supply to MSU office in Port Moresby, which is responsible for printing the certificates, were cut off.

Chimbu education adviser Essy Walkaima confirmed the graduating students from the three schools have yet to receive their certificates.

“It is a crucial period where MSU should have consistent power supply to ensure certificates were printed and issued on time,” Walkaima said.

Parish priest from Kondiu Catholic church Fr Peter Noglai also expressed concerns at the delay in the issuing of certificates for Grade 12s from Kondiu Secondary School.

Attempts to get comments from acting Education Secretary Dr Joseph Pagelio yesterday were unsuccessful.

According to sources  in the department, the problem would be attended to immediately.