School to help leavers

 By LARRY ANDREW

A NEW institution has been established at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lae, Morobe, for those left out because of limited space in higher learning institutions.

Teleu Engineering Institution principal owner Professor Yaip Kingsford Teleu from Gitua village, in Sialum LLG, Tewae-Siassi district, said the idea to set up a learning institution came about when he was with the University of Technology in 2008.

“I was one of the national professors who was affected by the saga between the university council and the vice chancellor and thought that I could not stay and be suppressed but use the opportunity of the knowledge and work I do at the university to extend to those who do not have the opportunity to go to university or other higher institutions,” Teleu said.

Teleu who, was the head of civil engineering department at Unitech from 2010-12, said there was a need as most Grade 12s did not have the opportunity to go further because there was only one or two institutions available to take care of those who could not make it to universities.

He said the Vision 2050 and Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030 stated for the increase of enrolments and increase of graduates but with the issue of limited space at the university they could not achieve that.

“With passion and drive that is within me I want to see Papua New Guineans excel so setting up this institution is to encourage top students who cannot find spaces in higher institutions and help them achieve PhDs like I did,” he said.

Teleu Engineering Institution has enrolled 87 students and has set the mark at 100 with 13 spaces yet to be filled and school fee set at K6000 per tudent for a year.

He said under the government‘s HECAS scholarship the intakes of students to the civil engineering department at Unitech is 35 with another 20 students who were self-sponsored, bringing the total to 55.

He said he had superseded that number to 100.