PNG Government To Cover 70 Percent Of Tertiary Fees Under New TESAS Arrangement

The Papua New Guinea Government will pay 70 per cent of tertiary education fees for students covered under the Tertiary Education Students Assistance Scheme (TESAS), following a Cabinet decision to change the existing cost-sharing arrangement.

Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Kinoka Feo announced the revised policy in Parliament, saying parents and guardians would now be responsible for the remaining 30 per cent, reversing the previous arrangement under which families paid the larger share.

 PNG Government To Cover 70 Percent Of Tertiary Fees Under New TESAS Arrangement/Photo supplied

Feo said the change had already received Cabinet approval and was intended to ease the financial burden on families sending their children to universities and colleges.

“Cabinet has already given approval to reverse it, so Government will now pay 70 percent and parents will pay 30 percent,” Minister Feo said.

He said the Government was also increasing support through the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP), which is administered by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST).

The minister said HELP would provide additional assistance to students whose families could not afford the remaining contribution, potentially allowing more young people to pursue higher education.

“Given that if kids are not able to afford that 30 percent, HELP will now cover that 30 percent, so making higher education accessible to every kid in Papua New Guinea,” he said.

Feo said the changes reflected the Prime Minister's vision of ensuring that no child was denied educational opportunities because of financial difficulties.

He also encouraged parents and students to fulfil their responsibilities under the revised arrangement while the Government expanded its financial assistance to tertiary institutions.

“This Government is serious in helping our young people in our universities and colleges, including increasing HELP.”