By DALCY LULUA
The Government of Papua New Guinea has contributed Fijian $5 million to the University of the South Pacific (USP), formalising its position as a full-time member of the regional institution and providing vital financial support for Papua New Guinean students.
Prime Minister James Marape made the announcement upon his return from the recent Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders’ Summit.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the funding is as part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to education and regional cooperation.
“This contribution reflects our continued support for higher learning and the importance of empowering our young people through quality education,” PM Marape stated.
“It also demonstrates our solidarity as Melanesian nations working together for shared progress.”
The funding will go toward subsidising tuition fees for PNG students currently enrolled at USP, significantly reducing their financial burden.
“Students studying there now should not worry about the full tuition fee. It’s been subsidised, and they should be paying less than what they used to,” Marape assured.
“A good number of Papua New Guineans are studying there and have been asking previous governments for help to subsidise their school fees—but they received nothing for years.”
The Prime Minister revealed that the emotional response from the students upon receiving news of the subsidy was overwhelming. “The students were all in tears,” he said.
The assistance is expected to benefit hundreds of PNG students pursuing higher education at USP across its campuses in the Pacific.