Madang, Papua New Guinea – 02 July 2025
Divine Word University (DWU) has today deregistered 848 students enrolled in non-clinical programs due to outstanding tuition fees, including TESAS and HELP funding components. The official notice issued by the Office of the Registrar confirmed that affected students would lose access to essential student services, including meals, ICT systems, and Moodle, effective immediately.
According to the notice, deregistration was triggered by a list compiled by the Student Finance team as of July 1, 2025. Students who owed only the TESAS Semester 1 fee or the HELP loan component but appeared on the list were advised to urgently consult the Finance team for clarification and possible reactivation before Friday, July 4.
This dramatic move by one of PNG’s premier institutions sparked strong reactions from students and public figures alike, highlighting broader concerns about government priorities and education funding. Commentator Nathan Kerry expressed deep disappointment, stating, “Today marks a very sad day that will be written down in the history of DWU.” He criticized the government’s failure to support DWU students while committing K9.1 million to support PNG students studying at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji.
“DWU has produced some of the country’s top bureaucrats, contributing immensely to national development. So why is DWU being left behind?” Kerry questioned.
East Sepik Governor Hon. Allan Bird also weighed in on the matter, blaming “terrible priorities” in national budgeting. “This is a result of terrible priorities,” he said in a social media statement, urging the government to urgently reconsider its funding decisions. Bird revealed that he had previously called for a Supplementary Budget during discussions on the 2024 Fiscal Budget Outlook, warning that underfunding of key institutions would have dire consequences.
Student leader Rickson Edward Waraba echoed these concerns, stating that DWU was financially strained because the government had failed to disburse the TESAS component this year. “The institution is running low on funds to operate beyond this semester,” he said, calling on the government to prioritize local students over international aid.
Possible Reversal Following Outcry
As of this afternoon, there are unconfirmed but credible reports from within the university that all deregistered students have been re-registered. One student who was on the deregistered list earlier today told our reporter, “We were all told to return to classes — I think the government has intervened quietly.”
If confirmed, this reversal would indicate a rapid government response following intense online and campus-based backlash.
National Implications
The DWU incident sheds light on the fragile state of higher education funding in Papua New Guinea and raises urgent questions ahead of the country’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations. While DWU students have temporarily regained access to services, the deeper issues of delayed funding, mismanagement, and unequal resource allocation remain unresolved.
Many now await official statements from the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) and Prime Minister James Marape regarding the future of tertiary education funding in the country.
