Hela parents urged to prioritize children’s education

Hela Education Services board member John Tipa awarding prize to a student. *(NBC News)*

Parents across Hela Province, particularly fathers, have been strongly urged to shift their financial priorities away from costly community expectations and focus instead on investing in their children's education.

The call was made by John Tipa, a board member of Hela Education Services and the Provincial Election Manager, who cautioned that spending valuable resources on traditional obligations solely to gain social standing yields no long-term security.

Mr. Tipa emphasized that significant sums of money are routinely funneled into community events, such as house cries, funeral gatherings, compensation demands, and social contributions at the expense of basic educational needs.

"Parents, especially fathers, like to contribute heavily to funeral services, compensation, and other community obligations," Mr. Tipa stated. "That money and those resources spent unnecessarily should be spent on their children's needs, such as clothing and school supplies."

He pointed out that while traditional contributions may offer fleeting social prestige, educating children provides a sustainable safety net for parents in their later years. Furthermore, he noted that building a generation of educated local professionals is essential for driving economic growth and social progress across Hela Province and Papua New Guinea.

While acknowledging the provincial government's efforts under Governor Philip Undialu to subsidize school fees and upgrade educational infrastructure, Tipa stressed that public intervention must be met with equal commitment at home.

"When the government is doing so much for the students, parents must also do their part and not depend on everything from the government," he warned, calling on parents to eliminate dependency and take full accountability for their households.

"Parents must not be lazy and dependent; they are responsible for their children's education," he said.

Mr. Tipa challenged parents across the province to step up as responsible guardians by making their children’s academic future their ultimate priority.