Graduation fee deadline nears

National

THE graduation list for the University of Papua New Guinea is yet to be posted but the deadline for the payment of graduation fee of K600 is tomorrow.
Law student Victor John told The National that the transcripts were not ready and the graduating list of names was not even posted, yet graduation was set for April 26.
“The school of science posted its list just today (yesterday) while the students in Port Moresby have gone to see the school’s executive officer to check if they were eligible to graduate,” John said.
“For those outside Port Moresby, it is very difficult to confirm their names on the list as it has not been posted yet.”
John said there were many students who lived in rural areas and some who came from subsistence gardening families.
“If the names list get posted late, their families will not be able to meet the K600 fees this Friday,” he said.
“I mean why are students even being charged a graduating fee of K600 when we have been paying thousands annually to get this degree?
“And students with overpayments are not even allowed to use the K600 from their overpayments to settle the graduating fee.”
John said many students would not be able to graduate due to the list not being posted or for those schools that posted this week as the notice was too short and I doubt many will be able to pay their graduating fee of K600 by Friday.
He said the graduating gowns also ranged in prices from K320 to K520.
“It was cost a student close to K1000 to graduate this year, after paying tuition and boarding fees the last four years to reach this day,” he said. Public relations director Jim Robins said they couldn’t comment on the subject and referred The National to the acting registrar, Ashwin Enoch.
However, Enoch said the graduation was under the vice chancellor’s authority.
New chancellor Robert Igara also refused to comment on the issue saying that the matter was a management decision.