The Government’s much publicised free education has
hit a snag. From reports we are getting, schools in Port Moresby are refusing to
accept students until the fees are paid in full, either by the Government or the
parents.
We are told that some schools are turning away students because they have yet to receive their share of the K350 million that was released by the Government. What we are told is that the Government has already put the money into the bank and it is now up to the Department of Education and Bank South Pacific to speed up the work so that all the schools should get their money by the end of this month.
It is true that some schools do not have bank accounts and for these schools, the management should make it a priority to open up new bank accounts and give the details to the Education Department and the BSP bank.
It is now obvious that the students are going to be victimised for something they are not responsible for. For many parents, they do not have the money to pay the fees because they believed that the Government was going to pay and they did not bother to save money for the fees.
In this situation, the Government is also unfairly being criticised because it has done its part. We urged the Education Department and the BSP to hurry up and put the money into the school accounts by the end of the month.
On another matter, we take note of comments made by North Wahgi MP and Chairman of the Jiwaka Transitional Authority about the role of the media. Mr Mul was critical the the journalists that did the stories did not get his side of the story.
Mr Mul was accused of ordering Rotary Australia out of Jiwaka Province by a Frank Goi. The story was carried in both dailies.
Mr Goi, we have now established, is contesting the North Wahgi seat and he is riding on the back of the work Rotary Australia is doing in Jiwaka. Mr Goi is the manager of the Rotary Jiwaka project.
Mul accused both dailies for being biased in their reporting and asked that this type of reporting cease because the elections are drawing near.
We totally agree with Mr Mul.
As the elections draw near, a lot of intending candidate will use the media to throw mud at the sitting MPs. It is important that all journalists should always run the information they have by the MPs and others to check its accuracy before the story is published.
Election in Papua New Guinea is a serious business and a wrong quote; a biased, inaccurate story can cause immense damage to the reputation of people and institutions.
It can also inflame or cause hostilities to flare up between communities.
In places like the Highlands, tribal fighting can be ignited.
As members of the media, we urge all to ensure that our journalists must visit their code of ethics and make sure they know them by heart. We, as media organisations, must also make it our business to make sure that our journalists understand the code of ethics and apply them in their day to day work.
We are told that some schools are turning away students because they have yet to receive their share of the K350 million that was released by the Government. What we are told is that the Government has already put the money into the bank and it is now up to the Department of Education and Bank South Pacific to speed up the work so that all the schools should get their money by the end of this month.
It is true that some schools do not have bank accounts and for these schools, the management should make it a priority to open up new bank accounts and give the details to the Education Department and the BSP bank.
It is now obvious that the students are going to be victimised for something they are not responsible for. For many parents, they do not have the money to pay the fees because they believed that the Government was going to pay and they did not bother to save money for the fees.
In this situation, the Government is also unfairly being criticised because it has done its part. We urged the Education Department and the BSP to hurry up and put the money into the school accounts by the end of the month.
On another matter, we take note of comments made by North Wahgi MP and Chairman of the Jiwaka Transitional Authority about the role of the media. Mr Mul was critical the the journalists that did the stories did not get his side of the story.
Mr Mul was accused of ordering Rotary Australia out of Jiwaka Province by a Frank Goi. The story was carried in both dailies.
Mr Goi, we have now established, is contesting the North Wahgi seat and he is riding on the back of the work Rotary Australia is doing in Jiwaka. Mr Goi is the manager of the Rotary Jiwaka project.
Mul accused both dailies for being biased in their reporting and asked that this type of reporting cease because the elections are drawing near.
We totally agree with Mr Mul.
As the elections draw near, a lot of intending candidate will use the media to throw mud at the sitting MPs. It is important that all journalists should always run the information they have by the MPs and others to check its accuracy before the story is published.
Election in Papua New Guinea is a serious business and a wrong quote; a biased, inaccurate story can cause immense damage to the reputation of people and institutions.
It can also inflame or cause hostilities to flare up between communities.
In places like the Highlands, tribal fighting can be ignited.
As members of the media, we urge all to ensure that our journalists must visit their code of ethics and make sure they know them by heart. We, as media organisations, must also make it our business to make sure that our journalists understand the code of ethics and apply them in their day to day work.
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