University gets K87,000 for students’ fees

SUMKAR MP Chris Nangoi last week presented a cheque for K87,000 to the University of PNG (UPNG) as a school fee subsidy for students from his district studying at the institution. Nangoi told the small group of students who gathered to witness the handing over of the cheque to the school administration that the subsidy was a support grant approved under his leadership to help parents pay for their children tuition fees at tertiary institutions. He said most students came from villages and their parents resorted to growing and selling cash crops to pay for fees but the current Covid-19 restrictions and other related issues had made it hard for them to earn enough money and the district development authority had decided to assist. “Most of your parents farm their land to produce copra and cocoa to earn an income to pay for your fees and I know it is a burden for them, so we, as the Government, have to assist in whatever way we can by making funds available for the subsidy,” Nangoi told the students. “I know it is a worthwhile investment as you are future leaders of Sumkar, Madang and PNG and it is something that we all won’t regret in the future.” Nangoi also made a commitment to continue the school fee subsidy programme next year. UPNG’s registrar Peter Petsul, who accepted the subsidy cheque on behalf of the institution, thanked Nangoi for his commitment to the human capital of his district and the country. “This is the kind of support that each and every one of the mandated leaders must be looking at and supporting this type of resource,” Petsul said. He said investing in the country’s human resource was key to ensuring a brighter for students who would be leading the country in the future. UPNG Sumkar Students Association president David Bagel thanked Nangoi for the assistance. Bagel said the assistance had given them confidence to pursue their studies. A total of K1.3 million was committed this year towards school fee subsidy for Sumkar students attending various tertiary institutions in the country.