Vanuatu Government is sending a fact-finding mission to Papua New Guinea today (Friday) to assess the safety and welfare of Vanuatu students in tertiary institutions there.
Minister for Education, Jacque Nirua confirmed the government has seriously taken note of calls for repatriation made by the students following the two separate violent clashes by students and the police, and between students from two highlands regions.
The fact-finding mission came after the Council of Ministers was briefed by the foreign affairs yesterday on the update of violent clashes including the student-police fiasco that resulted in one death and 50 people left with injuries.
Vanuatu authorities have since kept constant contact with the students, some of whom are now residing outside of the university campus.
Mr Nirua says the fact-finding mission will be discussing the situation with the administrators of all the tertiary institutions in Port Moresby to ensure any decision over the repatriation issue does not affect the students’ school programmes because they are under different sponsorship programmes.
The education minister said the report of the fact-finding mission will assist the government to determine whether or not the students should be repatriated.
Solomon Islands education embassy attaché, Claire Damutalau told Loop PNG they are in constant communication with UPNG administration.
"We are still in constant communication with the school administration before we make any more decision.
"There are some students who want to go home, and there are others who want to complete their (programmes) especially the final year students.
"We want them to complete their semester one. We are keeping them here to see if they are starting class or not before we repatriate them home,” Damatulau told Loop PNG.
She added that any decision reached would be in the best interest of the students, so they can continue their education.