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The President of Divine World University, Fr Jan Czuba,

Australian High Commissioner to PNG, H.E. Chris Moraitis,

The Members of the Board of Directors,

Grandaunts,

Invited guests, ladies and gentlemen.

I thank the Divine Word University for continuing to invite me here.

Since acquiring university status, DWU has grown in leaps and bounds. So it gives me added pleasure to contribute to your continued growth, and to take part in celebrating your achievements.

Papua New Guinea’s future depends very much on the wellbeing of its citizens.

National policies on social and economic development - and values - to which a nation commits itself are factors that contribute to the quality and wellbeing of its human resources.

The adequate provision of education and healthcare are therefore pivotal in how we shape the human resources of this nation.

There is also no such thing however as free education or free health services.

In the end, someone has to pick up and pay the bill.

Having said this, my Government will continue to commit adequate resources in our annual education budget to ensure that every PNG child has access to improved primary, secondary and higher education.

At our recent meeting in Wabag, Cabinet tasked the Education Department and other relevant agencies to explore available options for subsidised access to education up to Grade 8.

Based on this group’s advice, we hope to implement this policy starting in 2010.

The Government has also paid closer attention on partnerships with stakeholders, since taking office in 2002.

DWU is a classic example of the successful partnership between government and a church-run institution.

Such commitment and partnership has resulted in achievements such as what we are witnessing and celebrating today.

Quality education requires us all to work together and share resources.

The Government, business houses and providers of education - and end users - have to make the commitment to ensure our institutions of learning are well-resourced.

The government sees this commitment as an investment in our present and future generations. We must aspire to be a well-resourced and well-educated nation.

I am also happy to note that our aspirations to build an educated nation is not only restricted to PNG alone. We are helping to develop the human resources of neighbouring Solomon Islands, Nauru, Vanuatu and Fiji.

At this juncture, I draw attention to the representation of the Australian Government through H.E. Mr. Chris Moraitis, the Australian High Commissioner who is with us today.

I thank the government and people of Australia for continuing to be a major development partner in Papua New Guinea’s education sector.

Of course, Australia is a major development partner in many other sectors in PNG as well.

And, on the occasion of Australia Week starting tomorrow, let me – on behalf of the Government and people of PNG – wish High Commissioner Moraitis and his people “happy celebrations!”

Ladies and gentlemen,

On this 27th graduation ceremony, I also congratulate the Council and management of the University for utilising information and communication technology (ICT) to improve the quality of teaching, learning, and research in a cost-effective manner.

You may recall a few years ago, I launched a small project here and implored President Czuba to help develop the Papua New Guinea Academic and Research Network (PNG-ARNet).

I am happy to share with you the good news that PNG-ARNet is now providing services to all of our universities and other government-recognized research institutions.

My Government recognises the immense benefits of PNG-ARnet as a provider of quality of education not only to the universities but secondary schools and other learning institutions as well.

This brings me to the concept of community colleges in remote areas of our country.

Often students in these remote areas have limited or no access to teaching and learning resources due to lack of roads, bridges and other vital infrastructure.

But with PNG-ARNet, we can bring libraries and teaching and learning resources CLOSER to our people.

This successful collaboration on PNG-ARNet can be further illustrated in the newly established Community College in Marienberg.

This college is enabling our young people not to leave their home, land and traditional values in search of quality education in major towns and cities.

Through this partnership and PNG-ARNet, we can TAKE quality education to our home districts.

And the Marienberg concept is just the beginning of the implementation of similar community colleges in 12 other districts around the country.

The next challenge is to make this access cheaper and more affordable.

The use of ICT will also create some kind of history for DWU next year.

After three years of preparations, I am happy to note that the University will eventually become a paperless university in 2010.

I think this is some kind of record and hope our other universities and learning institutions will take time to study DWU’s policy and take a similar approach.

It does not matter where we live or work or how abundant our resources are, we must be responsible for the environment around us.

What is equally pleasing for me is the fact that my campaign over the years on climate change – both in PNG and internationally – has been taken up by DWU in a very practical way.

All around us, there is growing evidence of the detrimental effects of climate change and changing weather patterns.

We have had the recent king tides in many of our maritime provinces. Just last week, we also learnt of massive flooding and landslides, especially in our Highlands Provinces. I think we already have the world’s first climate change refugees!

I therefore endorse the paperless policy. You have my full support.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is also encouraging to see the Faculty of Health Sciences under the leadership of Professor Francis Hombhanje, working closely with the National Department of Health, Institute of Medical Research, and Modilon General Hospital which the Government has declared a training hospital of the Faculty.

I would like to challenge the President and the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences to finalise the development of the curriculum for rural doctors so our people living in remote areas can also have access to health care services.

I am aware that DWU and Department of Health are working on the curriculum, however would like to encourage you to launch the program by 2010.

I know you have the goodwill, necessary experience and qualified people to meet the targets.

Finally, I commend the 1, 216 grandaunts today who will be leaving this esteemed establishment with the appropriate skills and ethical values to contribute to our nation’s development.

Congratulations on your achievement and I urge you all to make good use of what you have learnt here to better your lives.

When you have a better and successful life, your family and friends will be happy. When we all have happy families and communities, we will have a happy and prosperous country.

I appreciate it won’t be easy out there in the workforce but you already have a head start – make the most of it.

May God bless you all.