MP concerned with programmes offered in universities

The National National

YANGORU-Saussia MP Richard Maru says reforms in higher education should look at the types of programmes and courses that universities are running.
Maru told Parliament yesterday that universities were offering courses that were created for specialist universities in the past.
He said some universities were introducing medical programmes which, according to the medical council, would not deliver quality and it had not approved it.
Maru gave an example that University of Goroka was not offering courses in accounting and even medical programmes which were questionable.
“This is an issue that these amendments must be strategically looked at,” he said.
“Who gives the approval to institutions of higher education to offer various highly technical programmes?
Is it the council, who assures that there is quality assurance and the capacity to deliver programmes?”
Maru said another area of concern was the size of councils and the composition of councils.
“Many of them have been running for 30 to 40 years.
“(They have) no new ideas and no thinking outside of the box,” he said.
“They have become so entrenched that they even challenge government decisions.
“I think some reforms need to be looked at in overhauling the governance arrangement of universities.”
Maru said universities should be reformed to work on quality and the size of councils and the compositions should be looked at carefully.
“The start of the reform is good but we should keep going,” Maru said.

5 comments

  • Honorable Member that true. The University Of Goroka is the one of the well known university in the county but we facing a lot of problem. they are;
    1. The university do not has the voice to speak on be half of the student. They burnt SRC for 6 years now. That why student do not have power to exercise their Rights.
    2. The pro- vice Canceler Academic, Research and innovative where divide and look after by three people.
    3. Some more.
    This problem is course by the council members plus the Canceler.
    Education is life for the young ones. Not for the old people to make politic in such university.
    A concern Parents.

  • Good point by Hon Maru. However, given the limited spaces in tertiary institutions what UOG is doing is fine . They are expanding their capacity to increase intake. The quality aspect of the program is what the relevant authorities in higher education and the professional bodies need to work together to meet the required standards in the field or profession concerned. I think the buck stops with DHERST.

  • UOG is being ruined and runned by cronyism and corruption. Lots of half bait lecturers and tutors who are their own post Graduate students and their level of work and lectures presentation is well below standards for quality and quantity. Remove the current VC and the current student administration director who was his own EO and hit the job out of cronyism and nepotism. There are more qualified professionals out there in png and abroad to deliver quality and content to our future leaders and educators.

  • The current VC and his TMT are running UOG like a communist and family business. Olgeta wantoks blg ol yet wok inside lo UOG. Ol banim src lo wanm? Em voice blg ol students yah. No wonder UOG lacks credibility and quality.

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