University of Goroka students warned to return to class

Students at the University of Goroka have been warned to return to class today or face the possibility of not getting a chance to enroll next year at UOG or other tertiary institutions.

This followed a protest organised by students last week to remove the then Vice Chancellor Dr.Gairo Onagi from office

Minister for Higher Education Malakai Tabar sounded this warning at a press conference in Port Moresby and revealed that a list of students will be submitted to all higher educational institutions if they do not comply.

Minister Tabar said he does not see any more logical reason for students to continue to not attend classes or destroy school infrastructure.

He sent two education officials at the request of the students last week who received a petition from the students and they have acted in favour of the students and sidelined Dr. Onagi.

Minister Tabar appealed to the students to return to class today and respect authorities for their best interests.

He said the Government had invested K183 million on the newly constructed dormitories for UOG unlike other tertiary institutions in the country and students can not continue to destroy or vandalise this properties over this issue.

“We asked that the students respect our decision to have the council and the vice chancellor suspended. The students’ representative council needs to understand their responsibility and return to class.

They must learn to respect authority and the laws of this country and they must learn rationale thinking.” Minister Tabar said.

He assured the students that an interim committee was in place to look at the next appointment of a new vice chancellor and urged them not to refrain from attending classes.

It is understood that third and final year students have returned from their practical training and are expected to take lead and return to class because this may affect their credits points to graduate.