The registrar of the University of Papua New Guinea has finally broken her silence by calling for students to return to class.
In a circular released yesterday (Sunday), registrar Jennifer Popat said: “After two weeks of classes, there appears to be no solution in sight. The university is extremely concerned about this uncertain situation.”
Popat said the disruptions have resulted in millions of kina losses to the university and its stakeholders, including loss of learning time to students.
“Such losses cannot be sustained. Normal classes will resume on Monday, May 16, at 8am.
“The university management has taken steps to provide a safe and secure environment for students who want to resume classes. Academic staff will be present to conduct classes.”
However, in a forum held on Sunday evening by the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Three-Mile campus, the students stressed that they will not retreat.
Medical faculty male SRC representative Hermine Peamo told Loop PNG: “The students have made it clear that on Monady (today) we will not go back to class.”
Peamo said they’re now waiting for the senate to make its decision on whether “we will still be students or we will be terminated”.
Their next move will be determined by the academic senate’s verdict, which was supposed to be given last Friday, the final year medical student told Loop.
The forum was attended by a couple of lawyers (former UPNG student leaders) as well as senior doctors. The professionals attended the event as “concerned citizens of this country” and not on behalf of the associations or bodies that they are a part of.
Ever since the students started boycotting classes, UPNG’s vice-chancellor Professor Albert Mellam, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Malakai Tabar and Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas, among others, have been urging them to return to class.
The boycott started on Monday, May 2, and will continue for an indefinite period.
(UPNG’s medical students joining hands in prayer after their forum.)