2024 PNG Universities and Colleges Acceptance List: DHERST, Govt, and HEIs Challenges

In this article, PNG Insight discusses the key points about the 2024 PNG Universities and Colleges Acceptance List. It puts clarity on the achievements and challenges of the higher education department, the Govt and Stakeholders.

The aim is to address many of the 'why' questions (see the comment thread in this article) relating to the scheduled release of the DHERST selection & acceptance list.

The opinions are based on our personal experience since the inception of DHERST's online selection systems. We hope that it gives you an understanding of the whole process. 

For the status updates of the PNG universities acceptance lists, click here.

 

Grade 12 Selections to Tertiary Institutions

The selection of Grade 12 students takes place before the Acceptance List 2023 comes out. 

DHERST used the National Online Application System (NOAS) to capture students' school leavers' choices. And uses the National Online Selection System (NOSS) to, electronically, select students according to their choice on the online school leavers' form, the NOAS.

Before 2018, the Grade 12 students had only 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices they pre-fill on a manual school leavers form. The manual SLF is sent to Port Moresby where tertiary institutions in the country scour over the paper forms and select students - this is long gone. 

The online selection and 2023 acceptance list compilation will be the 5th year DHERST runs the online selection. 

The online selection system and acceptance is the best technological intervention implemented by the higher education department, DHERST. 

However, there seemed to be a certain weakness in the selection process as seen in the release of the 2020 and 2021 acceptance lists. We do not know exactly what caused the delay but we can only infer that it may be due to the Public Holiday. 

2021 Acceptance List Release - Case Example

The 2021 acceptance list will be published before the TESAS Award list. 

The Post Courier reports on a statement by the higher education department secretary mentioned that the 2021 acceptance list will be published in two parts: 

• Acceptance List of School Leavers: formal list of all the students who will be enrolled for the first time at tertiary institutions in the country. 
• TESAS Award List 2021: The final list of the students in the 2021 acceptance list including their 'indicated' TESAS Award status.

DHERST indicated to have released the acceptance list on the second Friday of January 2021. This has not happened. 

We believe DHERST was working to get the 2021 acceptance list out to the public. Meanwhile, students, parents and citizens have to wait for the higher education department to make another announcement. 

The Post Courier reported that the TESAS Award list will be released in late January or February 2021. 

The reason is that 'DHERST will wait for all the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country to confirm their selection listing before the final TESAS Award List comes out.

Waiting for the HEIs in the country to send the confirmed list to DHERST can take ages. But, the Post Courier hinted that the final list could come out by late January or early February before the academic year starts.

Why Acceptance List Not Released on Time?

Many students, parents and stakeholders were asking the same question, why was the list acceptance list not released on time. 

As mentioned, the process of selection, quality checks, confirming availability of spaces with HEIs, etc is challenging. DHERST must get it right so that they do not mess up the final acceptance list.

The final acceptance list for students to enrol at the universities (including the PNG Govt's scholarship details) should/will come out a few weeks before the academic year starts. 

If you are someone with a special circumstance (non-school leaver, school leaver, self-sponsored, etc ) and need more time to prepare; make sure you mitigate the risks in good time before the academic year starts.

DHERST Acceptance List 2024: Key Points

In a press release two years ago, the Department of Higher Education (DHERST) said the students whose names appeared on the Grade 12 selection list must take note of the three points

• (1) Your personal details contained within your application has been forwarded to the Higher Education Institution which has selected you.
• (2) You should expect to receive an admissions offer letter directly from your Higher Education Institution (HEI). The HEI will communicate directly with you to inform you on specific details. 
• (3) If your Study Program receives scholarship awards from the National Government, you may be eligible for financial support through the Tertiary Education Student Assistance Scheme (TESAS). Your TESAS status is also indicated in this National Selection List. Please log in to the NOAS (apply.dherst.gov.pg) and check MyStatus section any time before the 22nd December 2018 for further details on how to access your scholarship. [DHERST , Press Release 2018]

 

Concerns if DHERST Race Past February 2023

In the meantime, there is no need to worry, even though the school year is approaching fast. Citizens and stakeholders must be patient. DHERST, since 2018, has done a fantastic job with the:

• Online School Leavers Application (NOAS),

• Online Selection System (NOSS),

• Compiling and quality-checking the selection listings

• Liaising with HEIs in the country, 

• Publishing the acceptance listing for ALL the HEIs 

Of course, there should be concerns raised IF DHERST has gone past mid-February. But for now, the department needs all the support it can get from the PNG govt, institutions in the country, parents, citizens and stakeholders.

We ask that you join us on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube for up-to-date education info on tertiary institution selections in the country, as they happen. In addition to PNG Insight Blog, we also run the PNG Insight website and PNG Mathematics Exam Resource website. 

Study at National Polytechnic Institute (Polytech Lae) of PNG Application and Enrolment Info

General info for students: Here is information for potential students wanting to enrol at the National Polytechnic Institute of Papua New Guinea (NPIPNG or Polytec PNG). The academic programs and non-school leavers' application processes in this article aim to help applicants as they prepare to submit their 2023 Polytechnic Institute Application Forms for study in 2024.

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  Credit: FB (National Polytechnic Institute - Lae Students Pictures)

Polytechnic Non-School Leavers Application Form

Selections for non-school leavers are done at the institution and the names of the successful applicants are notified via their website or Facebook page. A letter of acceptance is also sent out to the new intakes for 2024. If you are in Lae (Morobe Province), check the notice board at Polytech PNG at Eriku.

As mentioned, the Offer Letter for successful applicants will be forwarded to your forwarding address given in the application form. 

You can also collect the offer letter from the Institute Administration, through a valid ID presentation. If forwarding addresses are changed, call the Institute  Care-takers to give your new forwarding email addresses.

School Leavers Application (SL, Grade 12 applicants)

Selection for School Leaver's applications is facilitated by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology (DHERST) through its Student Support & Scholarship Branch.

It is important to note that DHERST through its Student Support & Scholarship will inform all TESAS awardees through separate offer letters. We wrote this article to give clarity to the process of DHERST selection and the TESAS Award. Check them out.

Any selected school leavers who do not receive a TESAS offer letter from DHERST should not consider him/herself to be a self-sponsored student and is subject to all self-sponsor conditions for selected applicants. For queries regarding SL applications, please contact DHERST.

Polytechnic Lae contact

Non-school Leavers and School Leavers offer letters are forwarded to students' respective email accounts provided on either the application form (for the NSL) or NOSS ( for the SL). That means that applicants to PNG Polytech will receive their Acceptance Letters through the addresses they provided.

If you have not received your offer letter, call or email Polytec PNG on polytec.acad.clerk@gmail.com  or monicaterry493@gmail.com

READ OPEN COLLEGE STUDY INFO and IBS UNIVERSITY PATHWAY HERE. Check out this link, if you to apply for a Police Training Course.

Academic Programs at The National Polytechnic Institute of Papua New Guinea

• Diploma in Applied Science
• Diploma in Architectural Drafting
• Diploma in Building.
• Diploma in Civil Engineering
• Diploma In Business Studies-Accounting
• Diploma In Business Studies-Computing
• Diploma In Business Studies-Management
• Diploma In Business Studies-Office Administration
• Diploma in Electrical Engineering
• Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
• Technical Training Certificate in Science Technology
• Technical Training Certificate in Drafting
• Technical Training Certificate in Tourism & Hospitality
• Certificate in Meat Processing
• National Certificate in Maintenance Fitting & Machining Level 1
• National Certificate in Metal Fabrication & Welding Level 1

2024 Enrollment Information

Enrollment for all successful applicants and continuing students usually takes place between January and February 2024. 

Make sure to turn up before the registration closing date. A successful applicant who fails to enrol on the closing day loses his/her space to other students on the waiting list.

Present Original copies of documents on enrollment: 

• Acceptance Letter, 
• Certificates and Transcripts and 
• a full school fee bank payment deposit slip or receipt.

National Polytechnic Institute of Papua New Guinea PNG Course Fee

The institution recommends that students (new & continuing) pay the Full Fee before enrolling, otherwise, enrolment will be denied.

• Full Year Self & Corporate Sponsor fee is K7,300.00,
• The Boarding and lodging Component of K2,800.00 is inclusive for boarding students and K4,500.00 for Day students. 
• HECAS Student Fee (Parent Component) is K4,500.00.

For the latest information and notes with course fees, please refer to the “Fee Schedule” attached to the Offer Letter posted to you.

Method of Payment

All payments must be made through the bank. The Institute account details are:

A/C Name: The National Polytechnic Institute of Papua New Guinea, 

Account No#: For the account number contact Polytech Lae

Note: All cheques must be made before the student is allowed to enrol. Students can be denied enrolment while waiting for the cheque to be cleared, therefore it is strongly recommended that all payments must be in cash or bank cheque before the enrolment dates.

Boarding Facilities

Accommodation on campus is limited and will be only provided for HECAS students on a “first come first basis”. Some HECAS students will not be given boarding privileges because of limited spaces. Boarding students are required to provide their own beddings (.i.e mattresses, pillows and linen) and eating utensils (for example cup, fork, and knife).

All other sponsored students will have to find their own accommodation off-campus. The Okari Campus is a church-owned accommodation facility that has been providing off-campus alternative accommodation for NPIPNG students since 2016 and continues to provide alternative accommodation for NPIPNG students. 

The campus is a 15-20 minute walk from NPIPNG. The Assemblies of God Church owns and manages the facilities as well as provides pastoral care and counselling services to the students. 

Those willing to be considered for Okari Campus boarding space can contact Mrs Norma Kendi at 72455254 or Mr Paul Kilembe at 76218142 or email pkilembe@gmail.com

Substitute Applicants

Substitute applicants will not be considered during the enrolment time.

For any queries contact the Caretakers or the Deputy Director-Academic or Deputy Director of Students Services on Phone # 472 2552 /7530/1505 or Fax: 472 1025. Visit the NPIPNG website www.polytec.ac.pg or the Department of Education Website. www.education.gov.pg

NEW INTAKES SELECTION LIST AVAILABLE - Press Statement DHERST

The Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) is delighted to provide the complete list of the Grade 12 school leavers who have been selected through the Online Selection System to registered tertiary institutions for the 2018 academic year is listed below. This is the complete list and it is available on the DHERST website.

Check out the latest post on DHERST Selections and Grade 12 results here.

With the inaugural use of the Online Selection System, a total of 12,234 students have been allocated to a study program (47% of the 25,848 who applied).  

All students with a GPA of 2.3 and above that met respective GPA and subject related entry requirements were allocated space within a Higher Education Institution (HEI). First and Second Preferences indicated by the Grade 12 School Leavers were used to allocate a place at a HEI while GPA and subject related entry requirements were used for ranking of the selection list. 

All other Grade 12 School Leavers that selected the option to be considered for alternate offers were allocated space in the program to which they exclusively met the entry requirement and also to which additional space was available.

New intakes from this list will receive admissions offer letter or notice from Universities and their respective tertiary institution. 

We also would like to advise the public that one institution initially provided the DHERST with incorrect student quota. The institution overestimated its own capacity hence it will enroll less students.   

Note that this list is not a Tertiary Education Scholarship Assistance Scheme (TESAS) awards list. The DHERST will inform all TESAS awardees through separate offer letters. Any selected student who does not receive a TESAS offer letter from DHERST should consider himself/herself to be a self-sponsored student.

Any offers given outside of theOnline Selection Systemwill not be considered for national scholarship (TESAS).

Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Lenita Mike on the phone 301 2078, email Lenita.Mike@dherst.gov.pg or Shirley Isaiah on 301 2087, email Shirley.Isaiah@dherst.gov.pg.

This selection would not be possible without the commitment of our Universities and other Higher Education Institution as well as the staff at the DHERST and our partner PCG Academia a company that successfully serves higher education sectors in the USA, Canada, Europe and now PNG. I sincerely thank you all for your collaboration and assistance offered.

I would very much appreciate if Universities and other Higher Education Institutions could provide their input by end of March 2018 on how we could further improve on the selection processes and the most important what additional criteria your Institution would like to add to this software. Thus, next year we will provide you with better services. Please forward your input to the Deputy Secretary Operation Mr Steven Matainaho on this email: Steven.Matainaho@dherst.gov.pg or  steven.matainaho@icloud.com

I take this opportunity to wish you all a Blessed Christmas and a fulfilling New Year. May the light of Christmas give you love, peace and happiness. 

God Bless Papua New Guinea!

Pila NININGI 

Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology