2016 UPNG academic year cancelled

The Prime Minister said it is the decision of the UPNG Council, which the Government could not interfere with but it is doing all it can to ensure the academic year is saved so students can continue on with their studies.

“Government officials are now negotiating with the UPNG Council to find an amicable way to save the academic year and if it means schooling until December, we will do everything possible for the students to continue,” said O’Neill.

He said that education is the top priority of the government and it cannot see it being jeopardised.

This follows the termination of the 2016 academic year announced by the University Council today.

UPNG vice chancellor Professor Albert Mellam confirmed that the students will have to reapply to repeat semester one in 2017.

The 2016 first year students will have to reapply as a non-school leaver and will join the school leavers as first year students for 2017.

Mellam said that this is an administrative process that happens every year and existing information for the students will be used.