Universities told to follow processes to be established

UNIVERSITIES which want to be established in Papua New Guinea must comply with the required procedures that are stipulated under the Higher Education Act, says the Minister for Higher Education, Research Science and Technology (Dherst) Pila Niningi.
He outlined the stipulation outside the Waigani National Court on Friday after the court dismissed a matter in relation to the registration of the Institute of Business Studies as a university.
“Why I am spending more time in court is because there are lot of universities popping up not following the requirements that are stipulated by the law, claiming to be university and collecting money,” Niningi said.
National Court judge Hitelai Kiele dismissed the matter, saying that the proceedings before the court was not presented properly.
The court heard that IBS University was the plaintiff in the matter, Deherst Secretary Fr Jan Czuba was the first respondent and the State the second.
Justice Kiele said the complainant in the matter was also not properly named and that the right party before the court was IBS as an institute and not as a university.
Justice Kiele said that the orders that were granted by the court on Jan 4 in IBS’ favour were uplifted and dismissed.
The proceedings before the court was initiated by IBS after the Czuba refused to recognise it as a university.
The court heard that Fr Czuba’s decision was made on the fact that requirements under the Higher Education Act were not complied with IBS.
The court heard that on Jan 4 the court granted orders directing Fr Czuba to register IBS as a university.
The court was told that a university registration certificate was issued under protest to the IBS as a result of the orders.
However, the certificate was no longer effective as a result of the dismal of the matter before the court.
Niningi told The National that the certificate would no longer be issued to IBS.
“We are also inviting IBS to come back to register but this time do it properly.”