UPNG to get K44mil for operations, maintenance

The National Main Stories

ABOUT K44 million will be given to the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) to meet operational and maintenance costs this year, the minister in charge says.
Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Pila Niningi announced yesterday that cabinet had approved the funding last month
He said the National Executive Council (NEC) noted UPNG’s 2019 funding shortfall for operational and maintenance budget and implications and approved an additional K44,045,007 to be allocated to it.
“In the 2019 budget appropriation, a total of K71,792,600 was allocated for UPNG, K52,792,600 is for operations and K19,000,000 for maintenance work,” Niningi said.
He made a submission to the NEC, seeking additional funding.
In a recent deliberation by cabinet, it was noted that an additional K44,045,007 was required to meet operational and maintenance costs for this academic year.
Niningi said the implications of not releasing the required funds were serious and hence the NEC directed the Departments of Treasury and National Planning and Monitoring for extra funds.
The additional funding will comprise;

  •  K7,800,000 unwarranted development funds from 2018; and,
  •  2019 Budget shortfall of K36,245,007 for operations, implementation of quality audit recommendations and critical maintenance work in the Waigani Campus.
    Niningi thanked cabinet for approving the money.
    He said the Government would also prioritise K10 million for the School of Medicine and Health Services (UPNG-Taurama Campus) in the 2019 public investment programme (PIP).
    Niningi said the Government recognised the importance of investing in human capital development so it continued to support any government programmes targeting quality education and training in PNG.
    He said some students’ accommodation buildings had been abandoned over the years due to lack of funding and needed renovation work.
    Former vice-chancellor Prof Kenneth Sumbuk told The National in January that a dormitory such as the Dame Mary Kekedo (DMK) Hall for female students cost K500,000 to maintain it to a liveable level.
    It is understood that University of PNG’s Waigani Campus in Port Moresby has 10,000-15,000 students.