CABINET has approved a scholarship scheme which would see all 50 Constituencies being granted four scholarships each as early as this year.
This means 200 scholarships per year for all the 50 constituencies.
Reliable government sources confirmed to this paper that the scheme was approved last week and the Democratic Coalition for Change Government (DCCG) is working toward having it passed it incorporated and passed in Parliament next month when the government budget is debated.
“This new development would see each constituency having four government scholarships for its students attending various tertiary institutions either in the country or abroad.
“This would see each Member of Parliament (MP) only having four scholarships granted at their discretion, unlike previously when MP’s can just put through any number of students at the expense of the Government and tax payers money,” a number of sources spoken to said.
The sources also claimed that in the previous government, big numbers of students were sent overseas at the expense of the government through scholarships granted for MPs under their discretion however that has encouraged a huge number of underperformances.
The Solomon Star understands that during the tenure of the NCRA government, a lot of MP’s and other prominent government official’s children were sent out to Universities in Taiwan, Philippines, Fiji and Australia, however most were sent home within the first six months having failed their respective programs.
Government sources said that this is an issue that the DCCG would like to go through with as a means of cutting down government’s unnecessary expenses, especially to those who do not perform academically.
“By doing this, we can have a set budget with priority areas to students’ tuition and allowances.
“DCCG knows that planning ahead and having this in place will reduce the problem of delayed payment of student tuition and allowances as has been previously experienced under the previous government,” the source said.
Special Secretary to Prime Minister, Rence Sore could not be reached to comment on the matter yesterday.
By JEREMY INIFIRI
