Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources & Environment (PNG UNRE) Council in its 50th Council meeting endorsed a K200.00 Graduation fee which students are expected to pay when registering their names to participate in a graduation ceremony.
This is necessary because unlike other sister universities which are located in or within close proximity to main town centres where the options of relatives assisting with food, accommodation and transport, or where other economical guesthouses are available, UNRE Vudal Campus is isolated.
On arrival at the campus, students and relatives depend entirely on the University to back them up in all the logistics and other graduation and living conveniences. This places a heavy burden on University systems such as Messing, Electricity, Water, Fuel and Transportation because continuing students are also on campus and lectures are still in progress.
The K200.00 graduation fee is minimal and is only a token gesture to assist the University manage these costs. The actual expense of accommodating one person on campus per day is about K500.00. Students on average bring both parents, or sometimes the whole tribe turns up. If the University was charging realistic costs, we should be charging our graduating students on average about K500.00 per day per person.
The gown fee is collected in two categories. K150.00 is charged for degree students while diploma students pay K120.00. Of this, 60% is refundable to students. Most times, students walk off with gowns, lose or misplace it and it costs the University about K1,000.00 to replace one single gown.
Nothing is free in this world. Too much handout by Government or its agencies will create false expectations from our students/parents. We are living within the realities of a modern era and we must accept that in order for us to grow our economy and proposer Papua New Guinea as a nation, we have to bear the cost of living honestly, or learn to adjust and live within our means. Attending a graduation is not compulsory. Students who cannot afford to, can graduate in absentia. Their names will still be recorded in the University’s Common Roll.
PROFESSOR PHILIP SIAGURU, MBE, CBE
Vice Chancellor (CEO)
PNG University of Natural Resources & Environment
DIRECT ALL QUERIES REGARDING THIS PRESS RELEASE TO:
PNG UNRE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE ON PHONE: 987 1219 FAX: 983 9738 OR EMAIL:
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