Principals urged to be responsible

 WITH another K30 million allocated this year for college infrastructure, principals must provide accountable and responsible leadership to ensure planned infrastructures are delivered on schedule.

Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and Gazelle MP, Malakai Tabar ,made these remarks during the Higher Education Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Recapitalisation meeting this week in Kokopo.

He said another K30 million was allocated this year for college infrastructure. 

Last year a funding of K120 million was allocated for college rehabilitation of existing and new infrastructure.

He said from an audit it was revealed that all six universities in the country did not qualify and faced some very difficult issues.

“We have taken into consideration those recommendations and went to every faculty and told heads of those institutions to build this into their academic and administrative functions,” Tabar said.

“We would like to see you reporting more on outcomes.

“I commend all principals of our various colleges and other stakeholders for the successful implementation of the various infrastructure projects under the K120 million. 

“Most projects should have been completed with others yet to be completed.”

He said quality and financing were important but could be addressed over time with first having quality infrastructure and curriculum in the institutions, then other capacity issues could be addressed.

He said the meeting to discuss infrastructure was timely as milestones and challenges of the past year could be discussed.

And interventions that were found would improve and strengthen systems and processes of service delivery at the institutional level and the whole sector as well.