Kennedy discusses subsidies

By GYNNIE KERO and REBECCA KUKU
STUDENTS attending the University of Papua New Guinea on government scholarship will have their board and lodging fees subsidised, according to acting Chancellor Jeffrey Kennedy, pictured.
Kennedy said all students must pay the compulsory fee which remained the same as last year of K2939 for the Waigani and Taurama campuses.
He confirmed there was no increase in compulsory fees this year.
“We have already issued circulars to our staff as well to inform them that there will be no increase in school fees, and that the government scholarship students are to pay the (balance of the) fees (after the subsidy),” Kennedy said.
“So if your child is on government scholarship and is told to pay for the full fees, you can report it to the vice-chancellor’s office.”
Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Secretary Fr Jan Czuba said the Government would pay K5,760 for students under the Academic Excellence Scholarship (AES), and K4320 for the Higher Education Contribution Assistance Scheme (HECAS) scholarship. For example, if a student on HECAS has to reside at the Games Village which costs K12,000 per year, then the student has to pay K12,000 minus K4320, and for an AES student, K12,000 minus K4880.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Kenneth Sumbuk said those who had paid to live at the DMK Hall which was undergoing renovation but moved to the Games Village temporarily did not have to pay extra.
They will be moved back once the repair work is completed.