In-country gov’t funded students furious over allowance
By CHARLES KADAMANA
Government sponsored students studying at the University of the South Pacific (USP) Solomon Island campus are frustrated over the delay in releasing of their allowances.
Yesterday, about 60 students marched to the payment section of the Ministry of Finance to inquire about their allowances.
Several students told the Solomon Star that their allowances is now overdue for about five months.
“We ask for the senior officer responsible for our allowance but we were approached by a female officer which we assume to be a senior officer dealing with our allowance.
“She denies having knowledge of the first bunch of USP SIG students who have taken their allowance earlier,” they said.
But they said some students have confirmed they have received their allowance on April 9.
An insider within the Ministry of Finance also confirmed a first lot of students have received $17,000 on April 9.
The students said, the way the responsible authority process the allowance is unfair since every student are all struggling to do their studies in the country.
They said all students should receive their allowances at the same time to be fair to all.
They did not understand how they justify who to get first and who to receive last when paying out the allowances.
“It is unfair for us especially when we are now into week 12 of our studies.
“Our classes will end in two weeks time and the delay of allowance will affect our preparations for exam,” they said.
The students also expressed that there are few students who have submitted their scholarship form late but they managed to receive their allowance first.
“This is unfair to us,” they said.
The concerned was raised to the Permanent Secretary early last week but he assured everyone they will receive their allowances.
Under the scholarship award the in-country students are entitled for tuition fee, living, meal, accommodation allowances and book allowances.
