THE Education Attaché (EA) who is looking after Solomon Islands Government sponsored students in Fiji has clarified the National Training Committee’s (NTC) decision to terminate and suspend a number of students studying at the University of South Pacific (USP).
The Solomon Star understood that about 59 students have been terminated and suspended after they failed to meet the scholarship requirements by failing more than three courses.
The termination, which was decided by the National Training Committee, was enforced last Friday.
However, in an email sighted by this paper on Monday, Samantha Teitei clarified the decision was made by NTC, which is mandated to award and terminate scholarship to students sponsored by SIG.
She explained that the students’ results were sent by the Student Academic Service (SAS) of the university on the 10th July 2015, the document was then sent to NTC through NTU for their viewing and analysis.
She added that on the 28th July she received a decision to inform those concerned about the NTC decision.
“Students who are terminated are those who fail all units registered for semester 1 2015, those students if wish to be under SIG scholarship in the future they have to apply through the normal process,” Mrs Teiteri said.
“Those whom are suspended had 80% failure which means you only manage to pass one course out of the all the courses registered for semester 1.
“These students can reapply by stating the reasons that contribute to failure and try to do some units yourself to convince NTC for consideration for sponsorship again,” Mrs Teitei added.
She also said that she stands by the decision that NTC came up with.
“I believe the decision made is fair on the sponsor as the Government cannot continue to fund someone who continues to fail units semester in and semester out.
“It is sad to see that half of those terminated or suspended are either second year, final year, reinstated or extension students,” the attaché added.
Meanwhile, the Solomon Star was informed that it is highly likely that most students that were terminated and suspended will be returning this weekend.
By RONALD TOITO’ONA
