SIG sponsored student in the Philippines urges speedy payment of allowances, claims delayed allowance payment is detrimentally impacting on students’ academic progress and welfare
SOLOMON Islands Government-sponsored students in the Philippines are appealing to the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) to urgently pay them their outstanding allowances.
One of the students who spoke to Solomon Star on the condition of anonymity said it has been four months now since they were not paid their allowances.
“Enduring four months without allowances is incredibly challenging for us the Solomon Islands Government-funded scholars studying here in the Philippines.
“For us the Information Technology (IT) students, we have patiently waited since December 2023 but up until till now, nothing has come through.
“The urgency of this situation has been conveyed to the responsible authorities but unfortunately, it seems they are not taking it seriously.
“It is disheartening that the delay in paying us our allowances is not an isolated incident for Solomon Islands students here in the Philippines,” the student lamented.
The student said that life in the Philippines is ‘financially burdensome’, especially for those without financial support from their families here in Solomon Islands. Unlike students from affluent families, most of us do not have a reliable support system to fall back on.
“As we approach the completion of our program, numerous requirements demand timely attention. Our thesis projects need to be finalized and on-the-job training (OJT) hours must be completed within the given trimester. The delay in receiving our allowances is not only affecting our daily lives but is also impeding our academic progress.
“Transportation costs for commuting to our training locations are overpriced and obtaining material for our thesis projects is increasingly challenging as the deadline approaches. Landlords are pressuring us for rent and our utility bills continue to accumulate while we anxiously await our allowances.
“Honestly, living in a foreign country adds another layer of complexity as seeking help is not as straightforward as it is in our home country. Thus, we implore the Solomon Islands National Training Unit (NTU) to promptly address the delay in our allowances,” the student lamented.
The student said even their emails to the NTU have not been responded to and on this note urged responsible officials to exercise the duty of care by responding with an update on their allowances.
“We request a response to our unanswered emails, providing much-needed feedback and clarification on the current situation.
“We urge MEHRD to empathize with our predicament by putting themselves in our shoes. A timely resolution to this matter is crucial for the successful completion of our academic requirements and overall well-being during our stay in the Philippines,” the student said.
By FLOYD TERRY JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
