Skip to main content

FOLLOW FOR MORE NEWS UPDATES HERE

Over 35,000 PNG Students have benefitted from HELP, with a total expenditure exceeding K177 million.


Prime Minister, James Marape has commended the success of the Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP), a flagship initiative introduced by his government in 2020, during an update received from Higher Education Research Science and Technology (DHERST) Minister Hon. Don Polye and Secretary Fr. Jan Czuba on Thursday, January 4, 2024.

As of December 31, 2023, over 35,000 students have benefitted from HELP, with a total expenditure exceeding K177 million.

The detailed report presented on Thursday revealed that a cumulative amount of K177,371,936 in student HELP loans has been disbursed from 2020 to 2023. Out of this total, 35,615 approved student loans were disbursed by December 31, 2023.

The annual breakdown is as follows:
• 2020: K28,588,354 (5,204 students benefitting)
• 2021: K27,688,365 (6,743 students benefitting)
• 2022: K47,093,604 (9,840 students benefitting)
• 2023: K74,001,613 (13,828 students benefitting)

Additionally:
• A total of 17,440 undergraduate students at universities have benefited from HELP from 2020-2023.

• A total of 405 post-graduate students at universities have benefitted from HELP from 2021-2023.

• A total of 6,477 students at teachers' and nursing colleges have benefitted from HELP from 2020-2023.

. A total of 11, 293 students at business colleges, technical colleges, and private providers have benefited from HELP from 2020-2023.

Prime Minister Marape praised Minister Polye and Secretary Czuba for the impressive performance of the HELP programme, emphasising its success since its inception in 2020 and the increasing number of students benefiting each year.

"The HELP remains a successful programme, and with a total of 13,828 students benefitting in 2023, we anticipate continued growth with the increased new intakes for 2024," said Prime Minister Marape.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring quality education is accessible to all students in an affordable manner, stating, "This Government is fully-committed to ensuring quality education is accessed by all students in an affordable manner."

Prime Minister Marape highlighted that in 2022the programme had generated its first repayment when the first beneficiaries began repaying the loan. He emphasised that beneficiaries would not be pressured to repay the loan hastily and can opt for a life long repayment plan.

"The loan repayments will be saved in what is called the Higher Education Endowment Fund, which will generate returns and, in turn, self-sustain the programme in the long run," he added

The Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) was initiated by the Marape Government in 2019 and officially launched in 2020.

This loan scheme aims to assist students facing financial constraints in paying their tertiary institution fees. For more reading:
https://lnkd.in/ggDNKRqh







Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Political Showdown in Papua New Guinea: Who Will Succeed PM James Marape?

Political Showdown in Papua New Guinea: Who Will Succeed PM James Marape? Papua New Guinea's political landscape shifts ahead of the critical Vote of No Confidence on April 8, 2025. Will Sir Peter Ipatas lead the way? David Manning Summoned: Insights from John Endemongo Kua on Police Commissioner.  David Manning is summoned by John Endemongo Kua, shedding light on critical political issues in Papua New Guinea for 2024 and 2025. Hon. James Nomane Grills Police Minister in 2025 Parliament Session. In a recent Parliament session, Hon. James Nomane challenges the Police Minister on key issues affecting law enforcement in Papua New Guinea. Parliament Recalled: A Critical Session Awaits on April 8, 2025 Join People's Anti-Corruption Movement President John Endemongo Kua as he discusses the implications of the Parliament recall on April 8.

Is PNG Sinking Under Marape? The Call for Leadership Change Grows Louder

Is PNG Sinking Under Marape? The Call for Leadership Change Grows Louder When a nation’s hospitals collapse, youth remain jobless, and foreign investors flee — we must ask: Is this the leadership Papua New Guinea deserves? For six years, Prime Minister James Marape and the PANGU-led government have promised change, development, and prosperity. Yet the reality on the ground is devastatingly clear: deteriorating roads, empty medical stores, unpaid provincial grants, and a frustrated generation of unemployed youth. Despite record-breaking K27 billion budgets, where is the progress? The Opposition's call for Marape’s resignation is not just a political play — it's an echo of the people’s growing despair. Even long-standing businesses like Fletcher Morobe are leaving after 70 years, waving a red flag that the world is watching — and walking away. The East Sepik Governor’s revelation that doctors are paying for medicine from their own pockets while over K1 billion i...

Governor Allan Bird Demands Marape's Removal

Governor Allan Bird Demands Marape's Removal Allan Bird, the governor of East Sepik, is speaking out against how Papua New Guinea (PNG) is being run. He's not happy with Prime Minister James Marape and wants things to change. Allan Bird is becoming a big voice in the opposition party. He's known for being honest and talking about the problems people care about, like bad government and lack of honesty. He says people are tired of the government's decisions. One of the things Allan Bird is criticizing is the Connect PNG program. This program is supposed to improve roads and other infrastructure across the country. But Allan Bird says the money isn't being used properly. He wants to know where the money is going and if it's really helping people. This raises questions about whether the government is being honest about how it spends money. Allan Bird's speech has started a big discussion about who should be leading PNG and how the country should be run. He...

News Blog

Labels

Show more