Eastern Highlands signs deal to secure school fees for students at Unitech
The Eastern Highlands Provincial Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] with the Papua New Guinea University of Technology [Unitech] to ensure school fee subsidy payments for all Eastern Highlands students studying at the university are covered.
The agreement was signed in Lae by Eastern Highlands Governor Simon Sia, committing an estimated K500,000 towards supporting students from the province enrolled at Unitech.
Governor Sia said the exact figure will be confirmed after student applications close on February 13.
“We are still receiving applications from students, so I cannot give an exact figure at this stage. However, we are looking at committing around half a million kina for our students at Unitech,” Governor Sia said.
He added that once the funds are transferred to the university, Unitech will decide how the money is managed.
“All Eastern Highlands students, whether self-sponsored or on government scholarships, are eligible for this funding. Students must download the application from our website and ensure they meet the requirements to secure the subsidy,” he said.
Unitech Vice-Chancellor Professor Ora Renagi said the MOU is important because some students have previously demanded that any remaining balance be paid directly to them at the end of the academic year.
Professor Renagi explained that the agreement clearly states that any unspent funds will either be returned to the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government or rolled over to support new students from the province in the following year.
“Unitech is very proud to partner with the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government. This MOU provides clear proof of how the funds will be used and helps avoid misunderstandings,” Professor Renagi said.
He confirmed that Eastern Highlands is the first province to enter into such a partnership with Unitech, apart from Kainantu Town and Lufa District within the province.
The agreement is expected to improve transparency and ensure long-term support for Eastern Highlands students studying at the university.