Students query travel

ONE group of University of Papua New Guinea students is concerned about the new travel-home arrangements put in place by the Office of Higher Education (OHE).
About 20 of them fronted up at the OHE office at Waigani on Wednesday to seek clarification.
The students, who did not want to be named, said the new procedure would deprive them of several activities, including their freedom of movement, time limitation for clearance and job placements for those awaiting industrial placements and Lahara sessions.
They said they preferred the original arrangements where they were issued open airline tickets which were valid until end of December.
OHE scholarships acting director Joseph Morimai yesterday said that the changes were made last year after past bad experiences where students had “abused” their rights.
He said there were many instances where students  did not travel and sold their airline tickets along with their identification cards to outsiders instead.
Morimai said that part of the decision to centralise travels was for acquittal purposes and directives from universities requesting students to depart campus after finishing their examinations.
He said students awaiting job placements and Lahara courses would be exempted as long as necessary details were furnished to the dean of students.