Saulep challenges

 UNIVERSITY of Technology Acting Chancellor Ralph Saulep has instructed his lawyers to file a motion in the National Court in Lae seeking a declaration that the council meeting at the campus last Friday be invalidated.

He issued a warning yesterday to the Office of the Chief Immigration Officer Mataio Rabura that issuing a work visa to Dr Albert Schram would be challenged as contempt of court.

The National Court last Wednesday ordered that the interim university council headed by Sir Nagora Bogan was null and void and the former Phillip Stagg council reinstated. However, last Friday Sir Nagora’s council and Schram were reinstated by Higher Education Minister Delilah Gore.

“The core dispute that led to the student boycott of classes arose because the Stagg council was not satisfied that Schram possessed the appropriate qualifications for appointment to the post of vice chancellor,” Saulep said.

“On this basis, the council terminated his contract.

“The court’s reinstatement of the Stagg council effectively means two important things: Its decision to terminate  Schram on Nov 8, 2012, was valid after all; and that the appointment of the Sir Nagora Bogan council by the National Executive Council is invalid and null and void. 

“As a consequence, Bogan council’s purported decision to reappoint Schram for six years in Dec 2012 is null and void.”

Saulep claimed that Schram did not have appropriate tertiary qualifications for vice-chancellor. 

He said that Schram did not attend the Sevua inquiry because he could not produce the originals of his qualifications.

“The easiest thing for him (Schram) to do to put this matter to rest, once and for all, is to produce the originals from each of the universities he graduated from. 

“In addition, he must provide evidence of his ‘extensive management experience in the United States and Europe’ which he has not done to date. 

“For these reasons, the findings of the Sevua Report on this subject can best be described as inconclusive.”

The position of a permanent vice-chancellor could only be filled through a proper selection process – the position be advertised and selection made on merits, Saulep said.

“We hold that Schram is welcome to reapply under this process, he is not denied.

“But he cannot be ‘handed’ the position on a golden platter by Sir Nagora. 

“There are many Papua New Guineans who are qualified for the position.”