Uni urged to resolve issues

Education

A cabinet minister has urged the new interim council for the University of Papua New Guinea to address the rowdy students’ behaviour and delays in releasing grades to students.
Minister for Higher Education Research Science and Technology Wesley Raminai made the remarks at the commissioning of the interim council saying information technology systems not computing students marks and other issues should be addressed to see improvement in the quality of teaching and learning
“As members of this new UPNG interim council, I ask you, to do something for this ailing university,” he said.
“You all, as Papua New Guineans and eminent professionals, can see the problems and I think, I cannot solve it by myself, it has to be all of us.
“All alone men and women in all sectors to contribute and reshape and regenerate a new energy of learning, teaching, administration and management.”
Raminai said in his student days, students wrote quality research papers and highly acclaimed professors from all around the world.
“There was, of course, a very high student discipline and a very effective student controlled behaviour,” he said.
“The core business of University of Papua New Guinea is to handle students’ issues and, more profoundly, the learning and teaching aspect of their university life.
“We want students to study under productive and proactive tutors, lecturers and professors.
“We want a quality research outcome and more regional and international engagements and collaborations.”
Chancellor Robert Igara, in response said given the one year term of the council, the task was mammoth but it would try its best to address them.
He said a meeting would be convened soon after with the council, executive deans and National Academic Staff Association to establish a taskforce to deliberate a strategic plan to be delivered to the minister.
Raminai told the council that he wanted them to create a business plan that could sustain the institution.
“Look at the university’s assets and convert them into economic gain, one area to focus is to look at the land space,” he said.
“We go into business partnership arrangements to develop real estate developments? Many of our students and staff are sleeping outside of the campus.
“We could arrange for rental rooms or flats.
“I am sure there are many that we can do. State institutions cannot continue to depend too much on the national government to feed them.”