Dr Nicholas Mann

His statement follows UPNG’s confirmation that the 2018 school fee structure will not be enforced as initially stated.

The decision to slash the revised K7,500 compulsory tuition fee to K2,939 was reached after the 24th January meeting with stakeholders.

Acting chancellor, Dr Nicholas Mann, clarified that normal reimbursement procedures will be applied.

One of the students told Loop PNG that he was told he might cause a riot, hence the security measure.

“The decision by the university and their reactions towards students’ concern and affairs is unbecoming of a leader.

“We expected more from them,” he said.

The graduating students have been pursuing the administration to justify the recently imposed K600 graduation fee, which does not include costs of the gown (more than K300) and hood (more than K200).

Certain regulations and fees were enforced in an effort to address costs incurred during last year’s student unrest, and the new graduation fee is one of them, Acting Chancellor Dr Nicholas Mann tells Loop PNG.

“Other universities have that graduation fee while UPNG, in the last 50 years, did not. However, we are going to start come this graduation,” says Dr Mann.

He explains that the fees will be used for the staging of the graduation on July 28.

The salary increase stems from the Government’s approval of an annual 7.5 percent pay increase for all public servants in PNG, commencing in 2012.

Dr Nicholas Mann, the UPNG Acting Chancellor, said the issue concerning the 7.5 percent pay increase is not an industrial matter.

Dr Mann clarified that the university has already honoured this pay rise for three years, from 2012 to 2014, which represents a salary increase of 22.5 percent for academic and non-academic staff.

The only remaining issue is the payment of pay increases for 2015 and 2016.

The UPNG council’s decision to resume classes has been made possible due to appropriate and timely financial support from the government and a security risk assessment for the university.

The National Executive Council (NEC) approved the release of K12 million to help bring academic programs back and meet other essential expenditures, including addressing security-related issues and repair damages to the school’s properties.

The 2016 academic year was terminated following eight weeks of continuous boycott, protest, intimidation and arson.

UPNG acting chancellor Dr Nicholas Mann confirmed today that all students have left campus.

Dr Mann said students that were enrolled in 2016 will not reapply but only register again for the 2017 academic year.

He said only the 2016 Grade 12 students will apply for first year in 2017.

The university senate is putting in place a structure to accommodate the 2016 first year students and the new intakes.

The Student Representative Council has written to the vice chancellor and management requesting for a reconciliation meeting.

UPNG acting Chancellor Dr Nicholas Mann told Loop PNG that the university welcomes the idea and mediators will be involved.

Classes at the main Waigani Campus are yet to fully commence and students met with their School administrations today to discuss the idea.

Dr Mann said the students don't need to waste more time.

“Just come to school, say sorry and go to class,” Dr Mann said.