DHERST backs West Sepik with construction of new college

Land where the College will be built *(Image: NBC Owned)*

West Sepik Province will soon be the host to one of the country's Technical, Teachers and Nursing college in the country.

Aligning with the government aim in building 10 new colleges in the country, West Sepik has taken the intiative to step forward in the education sector.

The West Sepik college will be built in Poro Village in Aitape. On Friday a ground breaking ceremony was officated by the Minster for the Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology, Kinoka Feo and Governor for West Sepik, Tony WouWou.

Governor WouWou said the institution is part of the National Government's policy in building more colleges across all provinces in the country.

"West Sepik is aligning to the government's policy in building this college," he said.

Minister for DHERST Kinoka Feo congratulated the province on taking the intiative in building the institution.

Minister Feo said the country has limited space in taking more students into tertiary institutions.

Minister for DHERST Kinoka Feo, Governor Tony WouWou, Minister Tourism Art and culture Belden Namah, Aitape-Lumi MP Anderson Mise, Secretary for DHERST Loni Baki after the groundbreaking ceremony of the West Sepik College in Poro Aitape *(Image: NBC Owned)*

"As Minister responsible for Tertiary Institutions, my my aim is to increase the space of now 500,000 to 600,000 students so every Papua New Guinean can have a space in higher education, so for West Sepik in building this college will perfectly fits this vision." Feo said.

The Minister also stressed on the importance of education to the people of Poro, stating education is the only key to human development in the province and country as a whole.

To officially kick start the project, DHERST presented a cheque of K1 million to the provincial government.

Another K500,000 was also announced by the Vanimo-Green MP and Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Belden Namah to help support the construction of the new college.

Furthermore, DHERST has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Provincial Government and Administration to support major tertiary instutions in the province like the upcoming West Sepik College.