Pacific Polytech staff miss pay as $7M grant remains on hold

Staff at a private tertiary institution went without their fortnightly pay last week after a $7 million government grant approved in the national budget for 2025-2026 was not released, highlighting ongo­ing funding controversies.

Pacific Polytech director Peni Taoi con­firmed that the grant had not yet been received.

He told this matshead that sala­ries were being processed using existing funds while talks with the Higher Education Commission continued.

He expects the fund­ing to come through within two to three weeks.

Higher Education Commission director Eci Naisele said the funds remain "on hold" as negotiations with Government continued.

The Minister for Finance, Esrom Immanuel said he was "not aware" if the institution had re­ceived the funding.

"They were allocated in the budg­et, but whether they've been paid, that's another issue," he said.

Education Minister Aseri Radrodro distanced his ministry from the matter, noting that over­sight of the institution falls under the Higher Education Commis­sion.

The funding delay comes amid ongoing controversy.

Last year, Parliament's Standing Committee on Social Affairs rec­ommended stopping future fund­ing to the institution after finding it operated without Higher Educa­tion Commission approval and of­fered unaccredited courses.

The committee also called for a commission of inquiry to inves­tigate how grants were allocated despite the institution not meeting accreditation requirements.

The report was later withdrawn.

Opposition MP Premila Kumar criticised the escalating grants, noting that the institution received $1m, $3m, and $7m despite being a new organisation with no proven track record.

The delay has left staff members without pay, forcing the institution to use existing funds to meet obli­gations.