TITI GABI | PNG Edge
BOYCOTTING students at Lae’s University of Technology (Unitech) have forced the administration to close for 48 hours.
Students commandeered the university’s buses, parking one across the main entrance to prevent access.
“One student’s phone was confiscated and smashed, while trying to take pictures this morning,’’ a source said.
Student administration staff were ordered to close the office and go home until tomorrow while students embarked on a ‘public awareness road trip’ along the Highlands Highway to explain the situation on campus.
“The perimeter fence around the campus has been flattened and extra holes made as residents look for entry and exit points and students are camping around the main block,” the source said.
Recently appointed Higher Education Minister Delilah Gore yesterday ordered students back to class or ‘face appropriate action’ while she continues negotiations with stakeholders.
Students reacted, demanding instead Professor Albert Schram be reinstated and the report of the findings by the Sevua inquiry into the administration of Unitech be made public.
In 2012, Professor Schram was accused of ‘falsifying’ his qualifications. This led to fallout between the administration and the university council. Students defended Schram and a series of rioting incidents ensued.
Peter O’Neill ordered an investigation and an interim council was appointed, headed by Sir Nagora Bogan.
The investigations led by retired Judge Mark Sevua found nothing wrong with Schram’s qualifications. But Waigani is yet to table that report and a decision was made by the Interim Council to reinstate Schram.
A few weeks ago, PNG Immigrations said that Dr Schram’s travel documents were being processed.