OHE faces closure

THE Office of Higher Education (OHE) is facing a possible closure over the non-payment of bills.
A concerned senior official, who requested to remain anonymous, said the closure would create a “major problem” for the office during the crucial time of selections currently underway.
It was revealed that the office was issued instructions to pay up or face being locked out of the building at Waigani, Port Moresby.
A stressful director-general Dr William Tagis said last week that he hoped the company would understand the seriousness of the situation it would create if they were locked out of the building.
When asked about the amount owed to the company, he was unable to respond to the query, suggesting that the amount “must have been a substantial one” for the responsible company to serve the notice. 
Tagis indicated that officers from OHE were “working around the clock” to resolve the matter. 
He added that he hoped the government would also see the importance of the selection exercise and step in to address the situation.
Tagis pointed out that the possible lockout would affect selections for the newly launched programme for the first TVET study programme in Australia scheduled to start in January.
It was also revealed that the office was served with the notice last month.