LEADER of Independent Group in Parliament, Dr Derek Sikua supports Public Accounts Committee (PAC’s) first recommendation that the Ministry of Public Service to start developing accountants through both tertiary education scholarships and IPAM.
Dr Sikua gave his nod when speaking during the motion to consider the Public Accounts Committee Report on the Inquiry into the Auditor General’s Annual Report 2014 and the Audited Financial Statements and the Audited Report on the National Transport Fund 2013.
He said with the introduction of the new Bachelors Degree in Accounting at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) in 2016, “I hope that this will assist government in combating this problem.”
“The SINU will need government through the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and the private sector to fully support this course by sponsoring students in large numbers on fulltime basis.
“Private sponsored students cannot afford the high fees and other related costs and furthermore, I see this course as being more relevant to the accounting needs of Solomon Islands compared to similar training in other universities,” Dr Sikua said.
He said this is because the course is tailored to their needs and all students will be in a position to be attached to government ministries and small, medium and large companies operating locally to gain relevant and practical knowledge and experience before they graduate.
Parliament will resume on 3rd December.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
