THE GOVERNMENT OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA AIMS TO GIVE SCHOOL LEAVERS A SECOND CHANCE IN EDUCATION
PM MARAPE: GOV’T AIMS TO GIVE SCHOOL LEAVERS A SECOND CHANCE IN EDUCATION
Approved for Release: Tuesday 21st January 2020
By Marape-Steven Government Fans
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
The Prime Minister James Marape, MP, today said the Marape-Steven Government aims to give school-leavers another chance in education.
He made this announcement whilst addressing members of tertiary institutions, from all over the country, concerning the status of the TESAS and HELP Scholarship initiatives that are available through the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology.
These tertiary institutions included the UPNG, UNITECH, DWU, Technical, Business and Nursing colleges, among others.
“Whenever our children dropout from grades 8, 10 and 12, we as a Government must provide avenues, where they can be given other opportunities in our education system.
“We must work closely with tertiary institutions and our provincial and district level governments to ensure possibilities are created to further empower these children,” PM Marape said.
He said this is the only way where we can fulfil this Government’s objective of ‘Leaving no child behind.’
“If we do not take care of our school-leavers now, in ten years down the line, they may give us all a very hard time – engaging in illicit
activities and causing all kinds of nuisance,” PM Marape said.
He also urged school-leavers to go to their provincial and district level governments for assistance in locating spaces in tertiary institutions such as FODE, technical, teachers, nursing and vocational colleges, to enable them to upgrade their skills.
“On the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP), PM Marape announced that the program being the brainchild of the Marape-Steven Government, it gives huge opportunities to our parents and students, who cannot afford tertiary education, instead of borrowing elsewhere to cater for their education.
“It is particularly to enable our children to be educated at the tertiary level and empower them to successfully proceed into the workforce.
“We further aim to employ well-qualified academics to prepare them for the workforce, out there,” PM Marape said.
Accompanying the PM was his Deputy Hon. Davis Steven, Higher Education Minister Hon. Nick Kuman, Finance Minister Hon. Renbo Paita and the Hela Governor, Hon. Philip Undialu, who also represented all the other
governors.
Ends//
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////