The government in the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville is to investigate claims by an MP that new private education institutions are charging exorbitant fees and then issue meaningless diplomas for two weeks' study.
New Dawn FM reports an MP Cosmas Sohia as saying the education department needs to set up a policy to monitor and control these new schools.
He says the fees are a burden and a two-week course does not lead to employment.
The president, John Momis, says if it is happening, it is a sign mainstream education services are not meeting people's needs.
He says his government needs to think outside the box to try and accommodate those missing out.
"A lot of our students are being ejected by the current system which I consider to be expensive, and it systematically and consistently fails people. I think that system should not be supported anymore. We should look for ways of radically amending it so that we do accommodate those who need education."