Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Mass suspension of teachers’ college students in PNG because fees unpaid

Posted at 04:17 on 24 September, 2008 UTC

More than 500 students at the Lutheran Church-run Balob Teachers College in Lae in Papua New Guinea’s Morobe Province have been suspended for non payment of tuition fees.

The Post Courier newspaper reports that the students were suspended from attending classes on Monday.

They are living on campus but must move out by October 3rd if they are not able to meet the balance of their fees.

The largest group, 278 students, is from Southern Highlands Province.

A student spokesman, Paul Yapi, says the Governor, Anderson Agiru, must step in, find the money and fulfill its commitment.

He says they are the ones who are going to go back to the province to build the place and they deserve better.

The suspension have come two months before the final examinations and about 10 weeks before the end of the academic year.