University of Technology to implement aptitude test for school leavers

The Papua New Guinea University of Technology will be introducing a compulsory tertiary aptitude test for all school leavers who wish to be considered for admission to study at Unitech from 2017 and onwards.
As the University receives up to 10, 000 school leaver applications each year from which about 900 are selected, the Unitech Council and Management have approved policies to ensure a fairer and more transparent selection process through the implementation of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT-P) in addition to the grade 12 examination results to screen all applicants in ensuring that only candidates who have the capacity to benefit from tertiary education are selected.
“Its purpose is to measure the candidate’s ability (capacity to perform) rather than to measure achievement (demonstrated performance) which takes place at the school level” says Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr.Ora Renagi, to which he further added that some students who are selected upon their outstanding results from grade 12 do not always perform well at the university level.
“This is not a test that will be based on the subjects that grade 2 students take at high school, this is a test to test the ability of the student to reason , and to test their knowledge in general” says Dr. Renagi.
It was further elaborated that school leaver applicants to UOT who do not have the STAT-P results will not be considered for admissions to the University.
The STAT-P is offered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and will be conducted at the following specified locations from the 7th to the 9th of November 2016;
1. Southern Region- Don Bosco Technical Institute & Port Moresby NHS
2. Islands - PNG University of Natural Resources & Environment
3. Upper Highlands- Holy Trinity Teachers College
4. Momase- PNGUoT Taraka Campus and Tusbab Secondary School
5. Lower Highlands- Goroka Secondary School
In order for a student to do the test, the applicants must take note of the following mandatory requirements as stated by the University;
• Each applicant must pre-register with the ACER at the following website http://statpngreg.acer.edu.au
• Each applicant must pay a non-refundable test fee of K100.00
• The test fee should be deposited into the PNGUoT BSP Account # 1000386581
• Deposit slips or receipts with names must be faxed to PNGUoT Fax: 4757667/4734286 and/or scanned and emailed to hgioven@admin.unitech.ac.pg
• Deposit slips or receipts either faxed or emailed must be received by the 10th of October, 2016.
• Check the ACER website to obtain their admission number
• Only candidates who have valid and current (2015 or 2016) ID cards and ACER Admission tickets (generated after payment of fees are confirmed) will be allowed to take the test at the allocated venue.
Provincial guidance officers, Education Advisors and Principals of Secondary Schools, students and the public are advised to contact Mr.Henry Gioven on phone number 4734216 or email hgioven@admin.unitech.pg