Maprik gets K1.5mil centre for distant-learning programmes

A resource centre costing K1.5 million to be used by four universities for distant-learning programmes was opened in the Maprik district of East Sepik on Friday.
Maprik MP John Simon said at the opening ceremony that the University of Goroka, University of PNG, PNG University of Technology and Divine Word University were invited to operate at the centre.
“I dreamt to enhance and promote human resource. In order to make this a reality, we need to have a resource centre so that public servants will be working while upgrading their qualifications,” he said.
He said funding for the double-storey building was part of the K1.5 million grant allocated to all 89 districts by the Department of National Planning in 2015 when Charles Abel was the minister.
“This is the evidence of K1.5 million,” Simon said
Simon said as far as he knew, Maprik was the only district with a resource centre that would cater for the universities’ external programmes.
He said the centre would also accommodate the administration of the 21 economic zones, a district economic concept covering the
five local-level governments of Maprik.
Simon, as the chairman of the district development authority, signed an agreement with UOG delegates Prof Musawe Sinebare, Kensol Rui and Dr James Aiwa to have some of its flexible distance learning programmes run there.
Rui said registration for matriculation programme, diploma in tourism and hospitality, diploma in accounting, post-graduate development programmes and bachelor in education school management were now open.