25th July, 2025: The Office of the Governor of Hela Province is pleased to announce the release of school fees little over K7million for the 2025 academic year. This funding will support a total of 3,314 students across various educational institutions within PNG and abroad.
Governor Undialu has launched this initiative since 2018, following his election as Governor in 2017, and it continues to grow strong with direct funding support from MRDC Group and EXXONMOBIL PNG. Over the last seven years, the Hela Provincial Government through Hela University Education Fund (HUEF) has provided between K40 million to K50 million in direct financial support to students. This initiative is not a full sponsorship package, but rather a relief for struggling students and their parents. Without this support, parents would have spent between K40 million to K50 million during these seven years or many unfortunate students from poor family backgrounds would have withdrawn from their studies and remained at home.
The HUEF program benefits between 3,000 to 4,000 students annually attending colleges and universities within PNG and abroad. This year’s allocation has increased to K7 million due to the additional students sent to Parul University from Hela FODE and TVET.
Governor Undialu applauds the professional and dedicated work of the HUEF Coordinators, led by David Liyago. He also commends the support from Director of Education Ronny Ango, Provincial Administrator Marago Daguba, and everyone involved in this initiative.
Governor Undialu affirmed that while oil and gas resources may one day be depleted, it is agriculture and education that will sustain our province. Therefore, urges the Hela people to set aside bows, arrows, and guns, and to stop engaging in tribal fights. Instead, they should pick up spades and plant coffee and send their children to school.
The national government, led by your own son, James Marape, as Prime Minister, is already paying school fees from Elementary to Grade 12. They are also making available other subsidies and the HELP program. The Hela Provincial Government is complementing these efforts. It is the responsibility of everyone to change attitudes and join hands in promoting agriculture (coffee) and education.
-Office of the Governor of Hela