Transfer of Public Teacher and Technical Colleges and Institutions from Dept of Education to DHERST.

It is with great pleasure that I, Wesley  Ramanai, MP, Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology announce the transfer of all Higher Education Institutions currently under the oversight of the Ministry and the National Department of Education the Department of Higher Education , Research, Science and Technology (DHERST).

This is milestone achievement for the Higher Education Sector in Papua New Guinea and consolidates NEC Decision NG25/2017; to Reform, Transform, and Unify the Higher Education sector. The Marape-Basil Government places great importance on Higher Education and sees it as a catalyst to promote economic growth and nation building. In August 2020, Parliament passed a set of laws that would pave way for the reform to take effect. The laws that were passed are:

1. Education Act 2020
2. Higher and Technical Education Reform Act 2020
3. Higher Education (General Provisions ) (Amendment) Act 2020
4. National Training Council (Amended) Act 2020
5. Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources and Environment (Amendment) Act 2020
6. Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Amendment) Act 2020
7. University of Goroka (Amendment ) Act 2020
8. University of Papua New Guinea (Amendment) Act 2020

In accordance with Section 5 of the Higher Education and Technical Education Reform Act 2020, the Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST), through the National Gazette published on Friday 28^th May, 2021, sets Sunday the 30^th of May as the transfer date for all Public Teachers Colleges and Institutions (Schedule1 & 2). While the Public Technical Colleges are set for transfer on the 30^th of June, 2021 (schedule 2). The transfer date for other Public Institutions of Higher Education will be determined and announced soon through another gazettal notice.

As stipulated in Section 6.1 (c ) of the Higher and Technical Education Reform Act 2020 all transferred institutions will be deemed to be an approved public higher education institution in accordance with the Higher Education (General Provisions) Act (HEGPA) 2014 and will be subjected to the operations of this Act and the Higher Education (General Provisions (Amendment) Act 2020

Thereafter Institutions are subject to quality assurance processes by DHERST and the National Higher and Technical Education Board (NHTEB).

Private Higher Education Institutions Registration & Accreditation.

All private higher education institutions currently registered by the National Training Council (NTC) are now subjected to registration and accreditation process with the National Higher and Technical Education Board (NHTEB) pursuant to Section 52-62 of the Higher Education (General Provisions ) Act 2014.

Section 27 of the HEGPA 2014 requires all institutions to register in order to legally operate in Papua New Guinea.

To ensure only reputable and compliant institutions offer higher and technical education services to our people, DHERST will strictly enforce compliance as stipulated under the HEGPA 2014

As part of its reform process, the Ministry and DHERST are focused on improving the standard and quality of higher education in Papua New Guinea.

Hon.Wesley Raminai, MP

Minister for Sports & DHERST

(Member for Kagua Erave)

Source: DHERST Media release 4^th June 2021

National Gazette-Schedule 1-Transfer of Public  Teacher Education Colleges/Institutions

The following college/institutions will be transferring from Department of Education to DHERST, effective Date is 30^th May 2021

• Balob Teachers College
• Dauli Teachers College
• Enga Teachers College
• Gaulim Teachers College
• Holy Trinity Teachers College
• Madang Teachers College
• Melanesia Nazarene Teachers College
• PNG Education Institute
• Rabaul Campus of Divine Word University (Kabaleo)
• Sacred Heart Teachers College
• St.Benedict’s Campus of Divine Word University (Kaindi)
• St.Peter Chanel College
• Simbu Teachers College
• Sonoma Adventist College , APU Campus

National Gazette-Schedule 2-Transfer of Public  Teacher Education Colleges/Institutions

The following college/institutions will be transferring from Department of Education to DHERST, effective Date is 30^th June  2021

• Port Moresby Technical College
• Bougainville Technical College
• Madang Technical College
• Mt.Hagen Technical College
• Goroka Technical College
• Goroka Technical College
• PNG National Polytechnic Institute
• Port Moresby Business College
• Kokopo Business College
• West New Britain Technical College
• Western Province Technical College
• Don Bosco Technical College
• Sonoma Adventist College
• Christian Leaders Training College

The following college/institutions will be transferring from Department of Agriculture and Livestock  to DHERST, effective Date is 30^th June  2021

• Highlands Agricultural College

The following college/institutions will be transferring from Department of Transpsort  to DHERST, effective Date is 30^th June  2021

• PNG Maritime College Madang

The following college/institutions will be transferring from National Fisheries Authority to DHERST, effective Date is 30^th June  2021

• National Fisheries College

National Gazette No. G343  Port Moresby, Friday 28^th May 2021