Local firm develops phone app to help with school fees assistance

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
A MOBILE phone app designed by a Papua New Guinean to help students apply for school fees assistance was launched on Thursday at the University of Technology in Lae.
The PNG directory app allows students to register to become eligible for school fee assistance provided by MPs and other scholarship agencies.
The app was developed by a former computer science graduate from Unitech, and now a software engineer, Leonard Wanusim.
Wanusim, from Telefomin in West Sepik, is the founder of Minsoft Ltd, a software research and development company.
“Parents are always looking for ways to help their children with school fees,” he said.
“I wanted to develop an application to help students have access to scholarships from multiple sponsors, so that they can have the opportunity to get assistance.
“I have seen that MPs have been spending a lot of money on school fees, with no proper records on how the money is spent. I feel that the best app I can develop is school fee application.”
Wanusim said students get registered once, and from there, the details help them to apply.
“There are different modules to it,” Wanusim said.
“The main one is the school fee module which basically brings the sponsors and students together.
“It gives a broader opportunity for students to find sponsors. For the sponsors, they are able to manage their budget for the school fees.
“With this app, the student registers and it is all automated, the sponsor goes and can select students.”