An investigation will be conducted into the dealings of the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) division.
The investigation comes after serious allegations were raised against two UPNG staff accused of taking cash to give grades to students via a social media platform last week which went viral.
In the social media post, the allegations stated that two senior members of the ICT division of UPNG were giving grades to students who were paying money to pass their classes.
Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (HERST), Don Polye, said the allegations which had been circulating is
…clearly a serious matter and they relate to the core of the University’s vision, mission and integrity.
We will therefore undertake an investigation to establish the facts. The chancellor Robert Igara and DHERST Acting Secretary will meet with several members of the UPNG council and vice chancellor on this matter.
Chancellor of the University of Papua New Guinea Robert Igara also spoke to the Post Courier saying:
the recent social media post of a serious syndicate going on at the University of Papua New Guinea titled cash for marks are serious allegations.
He said they would therefore undertake and investigation to establish the facts.
I will meet with several members of the Council and the Vice Chancellor on this matter. We must also ensure that we respect and accord the opportunity to individuals against whom the allegations have been made by anonymous persons on social media to be properly heard, and be treated fairly.
This is the duty expected of public officials and institutions including UPNG by Section 59 of our National Constitution on Principles of Natural Justice.
Robert Igara
The social media post alleges that some students who performed badly pay around K2500 to get his or her grades from a fail (F) to a Higher Distinction (HD) or Distinction (D).
The post further alleges that the schools (departments) do not have access and do not know where the information is stored – the only department that stores, modifies and manipulate the records of student grades is the ICT Department.
Only two (2) people have access to the student data.
It alleges that the practice is still going on since 2014 and some students who have not event set foot inside a UPNG classroom are often allowed to graduate using this scheme or they pay to manipulate the records in order to proceed to the next level.
Many former students from UPNG, including five (5) former students who wanted to remain anonymous admit the disparities with their academic results and many still waiting for their results to be upgraded.
The former students said they have been following up with the University to correct their academic transcript but they are always told to come back and check and some of them have been waiting since 2014.