UOG Enga students oppose boycotting of classes

More than 300 Enga students from the University of Goroka have distanced themselves from the ongoing students protest.

The students told a press conference after meeting with Enga Provincial Government authorities that they were not supporting other tertiary institutions, mainly the UPNG-based students, to continue on with boycotting of classes.

Their leaders, Lawrence Anton (UOG SRC Council representative) and Mark Kapa (UOG SRC Vice President) said their decision to return to classes was resolved with Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas two weeks ago when he was there to present a subsidy cheque for their school fees.

“We are not part of the ongoing boycotting of classes. We made a decision to return to classes and that’s what we have done,” they said.

The student leaders said there was no need to continue to disrupt studies after they joined their colleagues to express their concerns on behalf of the “silent majority” on the national issues in the first week of protest.

“That is as far as we as students can go and we have done that. We are now worried about completing the semester without further disturbance,” they said.

The student leaders said they were ready to return to UOG whenever the University council called them after sorting out with relevant government authorities.

Picture: Part of the UOG Enga students that arrived in Wabag on Tuesday night in fear of being attacked by fellow students posing in front of Ipatas Centre in Wabag yesterday after a meeting with Enga Provincial Government authorities.