Vanuatu students

The council has approved the exemption, worth just over $US1 million, for students from Ambae, following the Manaro Voui eruption.

Students from southeast Ambrym affected by earthquakes are also exempt from paying fees.

This is made possible with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Nirwana Education Group (NEG), which is providing a RM1 million grant for this purpose, and the government of Vanuatu in Kuala Lumpar today.

NEG was represented by its group managing director Datuk Maran AK Kannan while Vanuatu by its honorary consul to Malaysia, Dr Henry Savarimuthu.

Photo: Nirwana College

Acting Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yvon Basil confirmed that accounts of events in PNG’s political saga will be tabled again at the Council of Ministers meeting today.

Basil said today’s briefing should assist the CoM’s decision about whether or not to repatriate 49 students from Port Moresby.

Basil said under the agreement signed between Vanuatu and the PNG governments in regard to emergency situations such as this one, the onus would be on the Vanuatu government to fly its students back home.

Minister of Education, Jean Pire Nirua has assured Vanuatu of the students’ safety in the wake of heightened tension that escalated from the PNG students protest and police shootout that resulted in one death and several injuries.

Mr Nirua said all 20 students studying in universities and the medical faculty of Papua New Guinea are safe.

He said the government is placing the safety and welfare of the Vanuatu students at highest alert.

He assured parents and guardians of the students in Vanuatu that the government is closely monitoring the situation.