Universities to get funding says Ngangan

Finance Secretary, Dr Ken Ngangan, has given assurance that the University of PNG and University of Technology in Lae will both receive funding before the end of this week to complete their academic years.

Dr Ngangan says they have received instructions from Chief Secretary, Isaac Lupari, through the Budget Review Committee to release some funding to both universities.

“By tomorrow (Dec 14) I will get a report where the universities have underspent what is left in their own budget.

“If they’ve overspent we’ll see what other funds are available. But the assurance is that the two universities will get some funding this week,” Dr Ngangan said.

In one of the dailies, UPNG Chancellor, Dr Nicholas Mann, expressed concern that the current budget will affect the 2017 academic year as they have not received funding approved by the National Executive Council.

The NEC has approved K12 million for UPNG.  In August, K1 million was delivered by Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and technology.

UNITECH on the other hand requires K40 million which to date has not been dispensed.

The massive costs incurred followed student boycotts and protests earlier this year.

Author: 
Cedric Patjole