Fr Jan Czuba, the Acting Secretary of the PNG Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST), expressed grave concerns regarding the academic year of 2023 for Grade 12 students, labeling it as the worst in recent memory. He highlighted the disparity between the number of students qualifying for tertiary education and the available spaces in institutions. Czuba pointed out several challenges faced during this academic cycle. Firstly, he cited the delayed reception of Grade 12 marks by DHERST, received only on December 21, 2023. Subsequently, during the selection phase, 10,007 students were chosen according to their preferences. However, a significant number of spaces—approximately 3,800—remained unclaimed as students did not meet the necessary criteria for qualification. "This was an unfortunate situation," lamented Fr Czuba, emphasizing the substantial number of vacancies left unfilled across tertiary institutions. When questioned about strategies to occupy these vacant spaces, Fr Czuba outlined a shift in the selection process. He clarified that while previously institutions selected students, the current electronic system enables students to choose their preferred institution. DHERST's role is now facilitative; institutions access a national pool and identify eligible students based on criteria like GPA for potential invitations. Fr Czuba revealed that despite this initiative, three universities extended invitations to students, which were declined. He stressed that DHERST lacks the authority to compel institutions to accept students. Expressing concern over declining academic standards, Czuba mentioned receiving late information from the Department of Education for the necessary analysis. Utilizing a digital system, he conducted an initial assessment comparing students' academic levels since 2017, noting a distressing downward trend. He plans to collaborate with Dr. Kombra to investigate factors contributing to this significant decline. "I don't want to jump to conclusions," he cautioned, acknowledging the need for comprehensive research to ascertain the underlying causes for the unprecedentedly low academic performance among Grade 12 students in 2023, irrespective of school backgrounds. Next : 74 Port Moresby Police Officers Face Charges: Police Discipline In Focus Comments are closed.
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