University of Papua New Guinea cancels 2016 academic year

The 2016 academic year at the University of Papua New Guinea has been terminated by the university governing council.

The closure of the university comes after five-weeks of protest over the last two months by UPNG students, which culminated with the destruction of university infrastructure and compelled the Government to declare a curfew at the Waigani campus.

The UPNG acting chancellor Dr Nicholas Mann announced the decision of the council today and indicated that it was based on the recommendations of the academic senate. The academic senate comprises the deans of all the university’s different faculties.

At all the recent meetings of the UPNG council, the continuing intimidation and harassment of students and staff continued to be raised as a concern. Consequently, the decision has now been made to terminate the 2016 teaching and learning activities at the university with immediate effect.

Dr Mann said the decision by the council was made after careful consideration of all representations and factors; it then endorsed the academic senate’s recommendations to terminate the 2016 teaching and learning programs.

Other academic activities like research, post-graduate supervision, community outreach and administrative functions are not affected by the council’s decision.

It is not known if the University of Technology (Unitech) in Lae will follow suit, following the killing of a Southern Highlands student a fortnight ago which forced the evacuation of students from other parts of the country. read more on >> PNG Education News Online 

Source: Post Courier