New uni for Highlands

 By MIRIAM MALAWA

THE Office of Higher Education will begin preparatory work for a new university in the Highlands region, according to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

He made the revelation at the University of Papua New Guinea graduation last Friday.

O’Neill said the reason was a lack of space in existing institutions.

He said 17,000 students completed Grade 12 last year but only 4,000 could be fitted into the higher education system, which was a major concern. 

“This is unacceptable. How can any responsible government live with this by denying our children the right to a decent life?” he said.

“We are committed to ensuring that the opportunity for decent and quality education is available.

“The government has increased spending in the crucial areas of health services, education and training, and law and order and infrastructure by 50% in just one year.”

He said the seriousness of the government’s commitment to the real needs of the nation’s long term human resource, economic and social development was reflected prominently in the 2013 national budget.

He told the students that universities and training colleges would be renovated so that they were restored as the country’s highest learning institutions. 

“Our oldest universities – University of Technology and University of Papua New Guinea – are our national icons, our national pride and identity,” he said. 

“Their prestige must be restored and that is what our government has undertaken to do.”

He said the government would review the administration of these institutions and weed out a culture of inefficiency, nepotism and complacency.