THE Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) revealed that the government has secured US$15.4 million from the Asian Development Bank for the development of the USP fourth campus project in the country.
The prolonged development of the project has received an encouraging progress and its ground breaking ceremony is scheduled for next month.
Minster of Education and Human Resources Development, Dr John Moffat Fugui informed the nation in his keynote address at the USP open day in Honiara last Friday.
“I would like to reiterate the Democratic Coalition for Change Government’s (DCCG____s) support to the development of USP Solomon Islands campus at King George Sixth school site.
“I am aware that the ground breaking ceremony will take place next month.
“The ministry has done all its best to support this development because we would like to create a better learning environment for all Solomon Islands students as well as students from other Pacific Island countries who may wish to pursue further studies through the USP SI Campus,” he said.
Minister Fugui said the current USP SI Campus Director, Dr Patricia Rodie is proposed to be the Vice Chancellor of the new campus.
Meanwhile, Dr Patricia Rodie said, “There is a need to provide not only adequate facilities and learning space for students, but also staffing and resources to cater for the increasing number of student enrolment at the Campus.”
Faculties proposed for the new campus are Public Health, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Technology and Environment, Faculty of Arts, Law and Education and Faculty of Business and Economics.
The completion of the 4th USP campus will enable the Solomon Islands Government to save money spent on sending students overseas for tertiary education.
This year alone, a total of 4,073 students are sponsored under the Solomon Islands Government Scholarship programme.
Of this figure, 1,327 are studying at Fiji institutions, including USP Lacala Campus, 231 in Vanuatu (USP Emalus Campus), 214 at Papua New Guinea institutions, 512 at the AMA University in the Philippines and 81 at institutions in Australia, New Zealand and Samoa (USP Alafua campus).
By SIMON ABANA
