The PNG University of Technology (PNGUoT) intends to introduce a compulsory aptitude test for all school leavers (SL) who wish to be considered for admission.
In a statement, the university said: “PNGUoT receives as many as 10,000 applications for admission every year, from which about 900 are selected.
“The PNGUoT council and management have therefore approved policies to ensure a fairer, more transparent selection process.
“Accordingly, PNGUoT will use the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT-P) offered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in addition to the Grade 12 examination results of SLs to screen all entry applications.”
The institution says the purpose of the exercise is to introduce a common measureable element in PNGUoT’s selection process that will ensure that only candidates who have the capacity to benefit from tertiary education are selected.
“SL applicants to PNGUoT who do not have the STAT-P test results will not be considered for admissions to the university,” the statement reads.
STAT is a tertiary aptitude test used widely by universities within Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the UK. Its purpose is to measure candidates’ aptitude or ability (capacity to perform), rather than to measure achievement (demonstrated performance), which takes place at the school level.
PNGUOT Management advises that this year’s ACER Aptitude Test will be conducted at the following specified locations:
- Southern region: Don Bosco Technical Institute & Port Moresby NHS.
- Islands region: PNG University of Natural Resources & Environment
- Upper highlands: Holy Trinity Teachers College
- Momase: PNGUoT Taraka Campus & Tusbab Secondary School.
- Lower highlands: Goroka Secondary School
The ACER Aptitude Test will be conducted simultaneously at all locations on November 7-9, with two sessions per day at each venue.
In order to do the test, each applicant should note the following mandatory requirements:
- Each applicant must preregister with ACER at the following website https://statpngreg.acer.edu.au.
- Each applicant must pay a non-refundable test fee of K100.
- The test fee should be deposited into PNGUoT BSP Account # 1000386581
- Deposit slips or receipts with student names must be faxed to PNGUoT Fax: 4757667 / 4734286 AND/OR scanned and emailed to hgioven@admin.unitech.ac.pg
- Deposit slips or receipts either faxed or emailed must be received no later than October 10, 2016.
- Check the ACER website to obtain their admission number
- Only candidates who have valid and current (2015 or 2016) ID cards and ACER admission ticket (to be generated after payment of fees have been confirmed) will be allowed to take the test at the allocated venue.
The university says all applicants should also note that deposit slip details will be crosschecked with PNGUoT bank accounts and records.
“A letter about this has been written to the Secretary of the Department of Education and copied to all Provincial Education Advisors, All provincial Education Standards & Guidance Officers and all principals of public and private schools that have Grade 12 students.”
Provincial guidance officers, education advisors and principals of secondary schools, students and the public are advised to contact Henry Gioven on phone number 473 4216 or email hgioven@admin.unitech.ac.pg