The Kerema District Development Authority (KDDA) has set aside K1 million to help subsidize school fees for students from the Kerema District in Gulf Province who will be attending various tertiary institutions throughout the country.
KDDA Chairman and Kerema Open MP Hon. Thomas Opa (pictured) made the announcement last week indicating that this is an ongoing annual budget appropriation to support parents in the rural areas ensuring students attain tertiary level studies in order to build up the human resource capacity of Gulf Province.
It is good news that the KDDA has supported well over 400 students last year in 2023 with many students studying in teachers colleges and nursing colleges to become primarily school teachers and health workers respectively.
“We solely rely on District Support Improvement Program (DSIP) grants and the first K1 million we have received will go straight to making payments to the different tertiary institutions that the students from the district will be attending,” the MP said.
The first term MP mentioned that this subsidy will not pay for all the tuition fees in full but it will help shoulder the burden on the parents with many being rural subsistence farmers.
Opa made known February 09, 2024 as the official closing date for applications as the Kerema DDA School Fee Subsidy Scheme is administered by the Kerema Hope Foundation.
“Many students have already submitted their applications and the Foundation has been busy in the last few months screening and assessing applications,” Opa said.
The local MP, who is also the Vice Minister for Petroleum and Energy, made it clear to parents and students who are not residents and citizens of Kerema District not to apply as KDDA will not allow students to go around applying to various schemes depriving students originally from Kerema District the opportunity to be supported by KDDA.
The MP mentioned that all applications will be endorsed and approved by local ward councillors and respective LLG Presidents to verify authenticity and legitimacy.
All applicants are kindly urged to contact Mr Dimrence Kivaina on Mobile 7257 5880 or visit the Kerema Hope Foundation office at Copytek Building near SP Brewery, Gordon’s in Port Moresby.
