H.E.L.P WILL START IN SEMESTER 2 & PHASE OUT OF TESAS

BY DHERST Professor Fr.Jan Czuba (Secretary )

Note: This post is the exact version of Department of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (DHERST) Press Release No.01/2020 which appeared in two local newspapers (The National and the Post Courier) on Friday 3rd January 2019. Headings were not part of the message but added to clarify the key points of  the press statement. 

We welcome the New Year 2020 and the changes and challenges the new decade brings. In addition to personal change for each one of us, we will together witness the transformation of Higher Education in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Phase Out of Tertiary Education Study Assistance Scheme

In 2020 our students will receive greater assistance with the introduction of  the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) and the Phasing out of Tertiary Education Study Assistance Scheme (TESAS).

Commencement of Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)

The Prime Minister Hon.James Marape MP and the Hon.Nick Kuman MP, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology have instructed the Department to introduce the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) commencing second semester 2020.

The second semester commencement of HELP provides time for students, parents, and sponsors to learn more about the support available through HELP assistance.
Second semester timing also provides students with enough time to obtain their National Identification Card (NID) and Tax Identification Number. Theses are important pre-requisite requirements when submitting Applications for HELP.

Hence during the period of January to May 2020, there will be a transition from TESAS to HELP. We will be working very closely with all Higher Education Institutions over the transition period to ensure that all students are well informed about HELP.

HELP Objectives & Impact

The objective of HELP is to assist as many students as possible to gain entry to universities or colleges; to offer high quality education, and most importantly, help students to succeed once they have enrolled. The fundamental reorientation in the financing and quality higher education is profound and will enable students to meet their educational goals, whether they are pursuing a degree or striving towards some other educational objective.

The most significant immediate impact will come from the financing of renewable HELP studentships. HELP will provide student support for multiple years of study as long as students continue to meet the required academic and non-academic criteria.

HELP Loan System

HELP will offer a new state-of-art loan serving system-a system that creates incentives and guidelines that will support a more user-friendly single online loan management platform.

This relieves the heavy upfront- debt burden on students and their families to cover the increasing costs of higher education. Combining the this support under one HELP umbrella makes it simpler for Students, Parents, Sponsors, and the Government. HELP will also be available for PhD, Doctoral,Masters and other postgraduate programs, meeting the Government’s goal in providing a full range of quality education at the post-secondary level and beyond.

What will happen between now and May 2020?

• As of May 2020, TESAS awards will cease for good and HELP financing will commence. HELP will be the only available Studentship for all students for years to come.
• Students interested in making an application for HELP financing have time to obtain their National Identification (NID) Cards and the Tax Identification Number-Important pre-requisite for making a HELP application.

• HELP application will open from 27th April 2020, online via DHERST web-site and as notified in press and media advertising.

• Existing TESAS awardees will have the opportunity to elect to transfer to HELP under the new student contract conditions, currently being developed.
• DHERST, together with the other Government Agencies and the Higher Education Institutions, will finalize legislation to establish and operate the PNG-HELP Fund financing renewable studentship into the long term.

• We will finalize policy positions, terms, and conditions on such matters as eligibility criteria, application and assessment processes, loan agreements, lending guidelines and other matters made in accordance with regulations.

HELP Policy, Terms & Conditions

• We will develop the full operational requirements of the PNG-HELP in accordance with the Public Finance (Management) Act in readiness for the commencement of loan applications and the issuing of loans for the commencement of the second semester of 2020 academic year.
• We will finalize medium-term funding arrangement with the participating Higher Education institutions based on student fee enrollments and the 5-Year Higher Education Sector Plan and Budget.

We will regularly update our students, Higher Education Institutions and the public on progress.

Under DHERST’s 5-Year Sector Planning for financing the Higher Education, HELP will become a significant source of funding for Higher Education Institutions.

On behalf of the Department, I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to our Government, the Higher Education Institutions, Parents, Sponsors and Students for your support during the academic year 2019.

The Ministry and the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology wish you many God’s blessings, peace and happiness for the 2020 New Year. We look forward to working with you in the year ahead.

Yours sincerely

Professor Fr.Jan Czuba

Secretary 

QUESTIONS ON H.E.L.P. SCHEME

By Bruce Teke

The recent post on PNG Loop titled: "No Benefit in Free Education Policy: PM" [Source: https://bit.ly/37mQTk1 ] implored me to ask the following questions which many will have as well.

These pressing questions needs urgent and immediate clarification from either the Office of the Prime Minister or the Department of Higher Education, Science & Technology on whether the Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape's newly introduced scheme known as HELP to assist PNG tertiary students fees in 2020 and perhaps beyond.

Further, to the supporters of Prime Minister JM, please don't take these questions as political. This is from a good citizen who honestly seeking answers for and on behalf of poor parents, students and stakeholders subjected to the the questions below.

Questions are as follows:

1. Will the HELP scheme also ensure tertiary Papua New Guinean students attending Private Institutions like Institute of Business Studies University (IBSU), International Training Institute (ITI), Mapex Training Institute (MTI), Asia Pacific Institute of Applied Social Economics and Technological Studies (APIASETS), Kumul Training Institute(KTI), etc?
   
   Most of the students who could not pursue their studies in the system tertiary institutions through MSU selections due to the competitiveness in securing spaces ends up undertaking their studies in the private/church run institutions. Thus, the concerned authorities must plainly make known to the general public through such media as to whether the private institutions would also be eligible to apply for HELP scheme to ease their school fee burdens.
2. Would the HELP Scheme also students studying abroad to apply for loan?
3. Would the HELP Scheme has any GPA cut-offs? News are speculating that the GPA cut-off is 2.8 to be eligible for securing HELP successfully.
4. Would the SELF SPONSORED STUDENTS be eligible also to apply for fee assistance through HELP Scheme?
5. How well is Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology (DHERST) prepared with the roll out of this HELP Scheme, in terms of man-power, policy & guidelines, website and database, time and resources?
6. How well is National Statistical Office prepared in conjunction with the DHERST to ensure all the PNG Tertiary Students have their NID Cards on hand on time in order to qualify for applying for their fees through HELP Scheme before their enrollments commence?

In order for the subject of questions above to prepare in advance, the authorities need to clarify the citizens plainly clear as soon as possible.

PLEASE SHARE TO BIGGER AUDIENCE IF YOU THINK THESE QUESTIONS ARE IMPORTANT.

Other Sources:

• PNG-Higher Education Loan Program (PNG-HELP)-191219

• PM Marape announces major tertiary loan scheme

ELECTION PETITIONERS THROWING BAIT INTO THE SYSTEMATISED RIVER OF CORRUPTION

By:  Tarali Tarlzen HIBUYA

Let me start my prologue with a story of a man who wanted to go out on a mission of catching fish using his hook tight to a nylon string in the agitated Tagali River in the highlands (Hela Province) of Papua New Guinea. This river is wide, deep and brownish:- actually the biggest and longest in the Province. There are lots of fish in that river but not easy to catch. He roasted remainder of only few local potatoes he had in the ashes to use as baits on his hook.

He set out early in the morning’s dawn and selected a spot where he thinks is where fish will easily take his bait. He threw the stringed and baited hook into the brownish river, and in all his undertaken throws and waits; his baits were taken by fish without fish itself ensnared onto the sharp hook. Sometimes, the unseen fish in the river had to sway the string ferociously in all directions, but when pulled, nothing heavy is felt in his hopeful hand whilst his bait is gone from the tip of the hook. After all, he realizes the potatoes in his bag are all used up and his stomach achy and hungry and the dusk befall on his eyes.

The rate of charming the baits and the hilarious movements of string by the unseen fish in the big, wide, and unclear river made the man to have high hope in catching something big for his dinner but nothing caught that day until his eyes see the string no more. The day to look for other food is wasted and the pieces of sweet potatoes he had are all wasted! When the night came, he slept with hunger and regret for the wastage, only to wake up another day at the same time to look for food and declare war with the fish that took out all his baits. Only if he could fast-forward the time to next day would he use his last energy!

Now, the corruption we have in the country undertakes in many forms but one big aspect of it is BRIBERY. When you try to bribe into a system to get something in your favor, you are already throwing your bait into the systematized river of corruption without knowing the size of your catch as favor or how soon to receive it.

Bribery is normally done secretly, thus is illegal and unbounded deals in which agreements are only in the concealment of the minds. Just like unseen fish in the river making a big splash and extravagant movements of strings, it will give you fake hope to buy more time and for you to waste what you have. And its persuasive tongues of the conniving system will indulge you into paying more and more until you run dry. The more and more you believe in their con tactics, the more you will give and finally you will realize you have gone too far to the brink of bankruptcy.

The election petitioners in Papua New Guinea have been conned big time by all systems of government in Papua New Guinea. The systematized rivers of corruption may in this case be Electoral Commission officials, Judiciary Systems, Lawyers, Witnesses, Politicians, Media Outlets, supporters, etc. and etc. who may wobble the petitioners’ strings excitedly and make persuasive splashes on their systematized river of corruption to make the petitioners anticipate their catch to be just there for easier and swift seizure.

If petitioners have involved in bribery to win in court, they will find that they a fighting the losing battle at the end only to realize that they have unexploited their time, resources and energy that could have been utilized during five (5) years to prepare for next election.

My Best wishes to incumbent Hela Governor Ajai Petai Nakai Tia Igini (Hon. Governor-Philip Aja Undialu) and petitioner Hali Hogawi Tinawi Tiri Igini (Mr. Francis Mulungu Potabe) in your court battles in Waigani. Hela people and your supporters are aware of how ferocious battle you are fighting at the corridors of Waigani court houses and under the tables in the Hotels in NCD.

Picture: (L-R)-Francis Potabe & Philip Undialu

At the end when all is done and dusted, remember this post which is and will be kept or posted in this durable Hela Political Forum (Original). At least you are informed by a good citizen.