Due to security issues, most of the halls of residence at the University of Papua New Guinea have been closed; students will be relocated to the Games Village.
The following halls of residence are inaccessible: Toa 1, 2, 3 (senior male students’ dorm); Veari Village (for post-graduate students); Hetura (first year male dorm); Luavi (final year female students’ dorm) and the International Village.
“When students stay in one area, security will be able to monitor them,” acting chancellor Dr Nicholas Mann told Loop PNG.
“But if students stay all over the place, perpetrators and opportunists will come in and mingle with them. That’s why management made the decision to congregate students in one area.”
He also explained why there are two security services on campus: UPNG’s Uniforce Security and Guard Dog Security Ltd.
“The academic area, like the Forum Square and lecture rooms, is separate from the residential area. The academic and administration area will be managed separately, in terms of security, so we won’t have people running around and trying to do all sorts of things.”
He said Guard Dog Security was contracted to ensure students are safe and university properties are protected.
Meanwhile, students are still continuing with their registration while classes are scheduled to start next Monday (Sept 5).
(The final year female students’ hall of residence, Luavi, is closed.)