PNGUoT SIGNS MOU WITH EASTERN HIGHLANDS PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT TO MANAGE SCHOOL FEE ASSISTANCE
The Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government in an effort to better manage school fee assistance funds for eligible students.
Vice Chancellor Professor Ora Renagi expressed that the university has maintained eight consecutive years of unqualified financial audits, stressing that transparency in school fee assistance management is important for all stakeholders.
“PNGUoT is proud to partner with the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government, under the leadership of the Honorable Governor Simon Sia. This signing is to ensure that the investment that the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government is making, in terms of school fee assistance, is accounted for and well managed.”
Governor Sia commended PNGUoT’s approach to managing the funds, saying the provincial government has been supporting students through the districts; however there have been no proper acquittals.
He emphasized that tertiary institution fees are not cheap, and the provincial government is supporting students to help parents with fees.
“Education is important… We want to groom as many young Papua New Guineans. This is not for me, not for the VC or the management – it’s all for the young people.”
The initiative to sign MOU’s with sponsoring organizations stemmed from the practice of students requesting to withdraw excess funds from the sponsors. This MOU will now guide the university to either refund the funds to the sponsors, or roll over to the next academic year to sponsor eligible students from the respective districts, provinces, or organizations.
Under the MoU, the EHPG is responsible for determining student eligibility and providing sponsorship funds, while PNGUoT is responsible for administering those funds, ensuring timely disbursement to students and providing acquittals to the district.
Registrar Mrs. Veronica Thomas emphasized that the University is mindful of the development challenges faced by districts and provinces, and is committed to managing school fee funds from the public purse so it serves its intended purpose.
EHPG is the third sponsor to sign the MOU, after Kainantu District Development Authority (DDA) and Lufa DDA, making it also the first province to enter into this agreement.
