University of Papua New Guinea announced that there would be no increase in student university tuition fees. The University Council said that the number of charges required would remain the same as those of the last year, 2017.
The announcement came as a relief to university student’s parents and guardians who are already chocking on the tuition fees charged. This decision resulted from an agreement between the Minister Pina Niningi of Higher Education, Research Science and Technology Department and the University. The two parties agreed that the government would honor its commitment in paying K17 million to the University. These funds would subsidize the tuition fees and cater for other university needs. PNG government had promised to offer this support to the university in 2017, but it did not honor its commitment.
Dr. Nicholas Mann who is the acting Chancellor of UPNG defended the university saying that they did not have enough funds as the government had failed to offer support. He explained that the move to increase fees would free the university of depending on the government’s failed commitments. PNG government has not fulfilled its commitments to the university over many years.
Dr. Mann further explained that the price of services and goods had increased over the years resulting in increased spending budget by the University. Similarly, the government had reduced its budget allocations to the University. He pointed out that the University would continue to remain in a dilemma if they did not receive donor funds or the government continued failure to honor its commitments.
The University of PNG officials were hopeful that the government would pay the K17 million agreed upon this year as they had honored theirs not to increase student tuition fees. The university plans to cover costs of operation in the university if given the K17 million.