Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech)

This was the message during a panel dialogue on 10 February to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNG Unitech).

Equal participation by women in technical careers is vital for PNG to participate in the modern workforce and global economy. This includes supporting women and girls to complete technical education to build the skills and confidence to participate in this essential field.

Student representatives in Lae expressed their dissatisfaction at the Prime Minister’s response in Parliament yesterday when he was asked about the implementation of mandatory vaccination by certain companies.

During Parliament’s September 7^th session, West New Britain Regional MP, Sasindran Muthuvel, asked Prime Minister James Marape to clarify the government’s stance on the “No jab, no job” policy.

Lae MP and Lands Minister, John Rosso, made this clarification when receiving the three-point petition from the PNG University of Technology students.

“There’s a little bit of misinformation,” he told students.

“I’m part of cabinet and we never said that the vaccine is mandatory. Mipla no tok olsem.

The students, who were joined by staff members, walked around their Taraka campus this morning, chanting ‘My country, my choice! Make vaccine optional!’

After their walk, the students gathered around the Duncanson Hall, where they received Lae MP, John Rosso, and Morobe Governor, Ginson Saonu.

When presenting their three-point petition, student representative senate member for postgraduates, Bill Lata, said rising unemployment and social disorder are imminent with the implementation of the “no jab, no job” policy.

The accord establishes the standard and benchmark for professional engineering education across countries and provides assurance when an engineering degree is awarded by one of its member countries, the degree is recognized by all other members in the Washington Accord.

PNG is not a member of the Accord yet but is progressing towards becoming a member through financial assistance as such.

Unitech vice chancellor, Dr Albert Schram, told Loop PNG that their graduation fee is included in the school fee.

His comments follow the outcry over the University of Papua New Guinea’s new K600 graduation fee.

“We do increase our tuition and fees 10 percent each year to correct for inflation and imbalances in our fee structure,” he continues.

However, the VC pointed out that UPNG has a different fee structure.

“There is no free lunch so they need to charge for costs,” Dr Schram tells Loop.