6 Mar 2014

Students in PNG's Lae still upset at Schram deportation

2:49 pm on 6 March 2014

Papua New Guinea's newly appointed Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Delilah Gore, has travelled to Lae to try and settle renewed student unrest over the deportation of its vice chancellor.

She has called on students at the University of Technology to return to classes.

The students had issued an ultimatum to the government to re-institute the visa for Dr Albert Schram, who was forced out of the country in April last year after attempts to make reforms at the university.

They also want the university administration to explain why Dr Schram was removed - an action that sparked violent protests and led to a government inquiry.

Our correspondent reports that most of students and staff at the Lae university want Dr Schram back, saying he had made a lot of improvements in his short time there.

The minister says she will address the issue carefully and work to avoid a recurrence.