The Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) continues to manage and administer scholarship funding from partners including Ok Tedi Mining Limited and Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) Trusts to support students from Western Province in accessing tertiary education and building human resource capacity for the future.
Through its Education Scholarship Program, OTDF provides annual assistance to eligible students, ensuring they commence studies on time at various tertiary institutions across Papua New Guinea.
This year, a total of 231 students from the North Fly and Middle Fly districts attended the 2026 Orientation Program for new scholarship recipients. Students were encouraged to prioritise their studies and make effective use of the support provided.
The orientation program, held at the Kiunga TVET Centre on Friday, 23 January 2026, was designed to guide both new and returning students on the expectations, policies, and processes of the OTDF Scholarship Program, which supports educational opportunities for young people across the province.
Speaking at the event, OTDF Community Education Program Scholarship Officer Ms Shemila Kasi urged students to use the skills and knowledge gained through higher education to contribute to the development of Western Province.
“OTDF is committed to supporting students from CMCA regions, non-CMCA areas, Middle Fly, and Preferred Area Development regions,” Ms Kasi said. “Students from Western Province have demonstrated strong academic performance, and I encourage you all to maintain this standard throughout the 2026 academic year.”
Ms Kasi added that continued support under the scholarship program is based on academic performance, with students required to maintain a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5.
Mrs Philomina Lucas, a parent from Kiunga whose child is also a scholarship recipient, thanked OTDF’s education officers and management for their timely assistance.
“As parents, we often struggle to support our children financially,” Mrs Lucas said. “This continuous support is a great relief and ensures our children are able to attend school on time. Through funding from Ok Tedi Mining Limited and management by OTDF, our children have the opportunity to become future leaders.”
The OTDF Education Scholarship Program provides targeted support to students from Preferred Area Development (PAD) regions, Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) areas, the Middle Fly District, and maritime cadet programs, reflecting OTDF’s broad and inclusive approach to human capital development.
OTDF remains firmly committed to supporting students from Western Province as a core pillar of its long-term strategy for sustainable development and future prosperity.
