Office tells institutions to provide acquittals on time

 By TONY PALME KIP

TERTIARY institutions in the country are urged to comply with the Office of Higher Education’s funding requirements as stipulated in the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

They have been told to meet two requirements, submission of financial acquittals and students’ registration list on time to avoid inconvenience.

The office of the director general said it was the institution’s responsibility to provide acquittals after the academic year ended in October so that funding like book allowances were paid to students on time in the following year.

Failure to comply with the institutions in the past had affected students. 

The OHE is expecting full cooperation from all institutions in the future. 

“Money is not an issue because funding is available from the government’s annual appropriations. The issue is how fast institutions send in their acquittals and registration lists.”

The delay in the release of book allowances particularly affected continuing students, not new intakes.  

In 2013, OHE staff had to visit certain institutions to help complete acquittals. 

This year, three-quarters of all institutions have received their book allowances. The University of PNG has gone through some delays but will still get their allowances.

Travel refunds for all students will be paid in the coming months on verification of necessary documents submitted for reimbursement.

The OHE said that it was looking at different ways to process these funds on time and was working with service providers such as banks to consider various options.