Students thank MP for paying school fees

 THE 13 students from North Waghi district studying at the Madang Teachers College have thanked their MP Dr Fabian Pok for assisting them with school fees.

North Waghi MP and Defence Minister Dr Fabian Pok released K13,000 to the college administration last Thursday. Students at Divine Word University from the district were also assisted the same day.

Madang Teachers College second year students Belinda Kumie and Jiwaka Student Association president Israel Koi said from Madang that the cheque received was a relief to them.

Kumie said human resource development was crucial in developing Jiwaka which became a separate province recently.

“We commend Pok for his commitment in supporting human resource development for the district,” Kumie said.

Koi said Jiwaka relied on agriculture but focus on human resource should be the responsibility of all political representatives.

“If Jiwaka and North Waghi have to progress, education should be the priority,” he said.

“We thank Pok for his vision and insight in recognising that education is a vital tool for development.

“He is balancing his service delivery in infrastructure, law and order, housing and electricity and we are very grateful.”

Former student president Kelly Ju said Governor William Tongamp and the other two MPs from Anglimp-South Waghi and Jimi were doing well and should receive credit.

“Leaders are elected by the people and if we criticise and point at the negative things, we could bring our province down,” Ju said.

“We have to appreciate them by giving them moral support and urge them to work together to develop the province.

“As educated people, we understand politics and personal differences could bring us nowhere, they only become stumbling blocks.”

The students called on all the four MPs to seriously support education for students in the province.

Pok also presented a cheque of K186,000 to North Waghi students studying at UPNG last Friday.

He pledged to do similar presentations this year for students attending other institutions in the country.