Unitech SRC must tread carefully

 STUDENT leaders at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech) will have themselves to blame if the O’Neill Government decides to close the country’s second largest university this year.

The stubbornness of Student Representative Council (SRC) president Eddie Nagual and his executives will be their undoing if and when the National Executive Council declares a state of emergency and closure of the Lae campus.

Newly-appointed Higher Education Minister Delilah Gore warned last week that she would not hesitate to recommend the closure of Unitech’s 2014 academic year if the SRC continues to block all efforts to resolve the long-standing dispute.

Immediately after her appointment, Gore undertook her first task by going to Lae last week to attempt to reach an amicable resolution with the student leaders.

With a fresh outlook, the minister was determined to establish rapport with the SRC and to convince the student body to end their boycott of classes while the substantive matter was being resolved in the courts.

Gore’s high hopes of a quick resolve were shattered when the students bluntly refused to allow her delegation onto the campus. She returned to Port Moresby bitterly disappointed at the stubbornness of the student leaders and their refusal to discuss their grievances with her.

In a paid full-page media release last Friday, the irate minister denounced the students’ actions in closing down the Unitech administration, including the ushering of acting vice chancellor Prof John Pumwa from his office, as “unbecoming of future leaders of this country”. 

“Such behaviour is unprecedented in Papua New Guinea and universities around the world. What the nation saw can best be described as a shameful act, not reflective of the nation’s core values and respect for the rule of law.”

Gore added: “Since assuming office as the minister responsible for higher education institutions in the country, I have given this issue the highest priority it deserves. I have engaged in consultation with all stakeholders, including the former council, current interim council, management and members of the student body to find an amicable solution to the issue.”

The minister is concerned about the wider implications of the crisis. 

“Surely, the on-going actions and behaviour of students at Unitech are disrespectful to their own parents, sponsors, the community and the country as a whole.”

Despite Gore’s appeal for the students to end their boycott and return to classes, Nagual and his SRC executives continue to play silly-buggers and are seemingly enticing the NEC to make the ultimate decision to close down the campus.

How foolish can our so-called future leaders be? They don’t seem to be concerned about their studies and are even prepared to sacrifice a whole academic year. 

A disappointed Prime Minister Peter O’Neill dispatched another government team to Lae this week in a last-ditch effort to find common ground for a truce or compromise. Led by Housing Minister and Markham MP Paul Isikiel, the team walked straight into the same brick wall that Minister Gore faced last week. 

An equally irate Isikiel condemned the student leaders for their stubbornness and irrational behaviour in turning the Unitech campus into what he described as a mini police state where lecturers and others who opposed their cause were placed under house arrest while student groups patrolled the closed campus.

Like Gore, the Housing Minister also expressed grave concern about the situation and the consequences of the students’ actions on their studies and future.

The current situation may prompt the NEC to declare a state of emergency and order the closure of the Lae campus. It may also order Defence Force troops next door in Igam Barracks to move in and recapture this vital state facility.

Nagual and his SRC executives would not want that to happen, would they?

Indeed, it would be wise of them to back off from their tough stance and re-establish dialogue with Minister Gore who is still willing to resolve this issue in the best possible way.

After all, the Unitech students will be the biggest losers if they continue to put the university under siege.