Institute turns student away

Letters

SECOND year students attending PNG Education Institute have not been allowed to register with part payment of school fee.
My son was selected to take up early childhood development studies (ECDS) last year, which he attended and completed his first year.
There were about 50 students from different secondary schools selected by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology to take up this programme last year.
They were told to pay their own fees including airfares.
This year, all ECDS students were placed under Hecas but were not issued airline tickets.
All second year students, including my son, paid for their own airfares to Port Moresby.
At registration, they were asked to pay the full component of fee even though some paid three quarter of the component.
These students have been denied their basic rights to education.
The prime minister clearly pointed out to all institutional heads at the beginning of this year that no student should be turned away during registration.
Even though the education secretary re-emphasised the words of the prime minister, this has fallen on deaf ears.
I call on the education secretary to suspend the college administration.
Also, I would like to call on the Public Accounts Committee chairman to conduct an investigation into the funds of this college.
Facilities at the college are run-down and there was no recent maintenance.
The college, lecture hall, classrooms, dormitories and staff houses are all rundown.

Concerned Parent,
Madang