THE Solomon Islands National University (SINU) – the nation’s only tertiary institution – is facing a bleak future as it struggles to shake off a plume of funding difficulties which have forced thousands of students to withdraw.
Sources told Solomon Star yesterday the hard line taken by SINU’s administration against students with outstanding tuition fees has only exacerbated the university’s financial woes.
As of 4pm last Friday only 500 students enrolled to continue their studies in the second semester in the faculty of Education and Humanities. They are enrolled to do their studies based on units because of the cost. Each unit costs about $1, 650.
According to sources, more than 3, 000 students enrolled in the Faculty of Education and Humanities at the beginning of the year.
“This is the highest number in any of the five Faculties,” the sources said.
The sources said the University has now told students not to bother coming to class if they had arrears in their tuition fees.
It is understood SINU has taken a similar stance against Members of Parliament, who have not honored their past commitments to meet the cost of tuition fees for students from their constituencies.
It is also understood these measures were announced during SINU’s orientation day on Monday this week.
Those familiar with the running cost of the University told Solomon Star no university survives financially from fees from just 500 students.
“It is impossible unless the government steps in to address the financial situation at SINU,” they said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, McKinnie Dentana told a press briefing last week the Government has cleared all its commitment to SINU.
SINU was established eight years ago with a vision to provide “a quality National University, raising standards of education and applied research in the Pacific region,” according to its website.
Its Mission it said is “championing the pursuit of knowledge, skills, academic inquiry and applied research to transform lives through higher education and training, inclusive of diverse communities, while providing relevant solutions for the Solomon Islands.”
Its value is that it is “committed to providing excellent and high quality teaching, learning, skills training, and research. Innovativeness: SINU encourages and promotes creative ideas and solutions to existing and new challenges. Relevance: SINU is committed to providing relevant teaching.” Its website said…
SINU announced earlier this year that some 8, 000 students had enrolled in its five Faculties, including Business and Tourism Studies, Science and Technologies, Nursing, Medicine and Health Sciences and Education and Humanities.
The dwindled to some 6, 000 when students began finding difficulties in paying up their tuition fees, which at the time had amounted to tens of millions of dollars.
It is not clear how many students had enrolled in other faculties to continue their studies in the second semester.
Meanwhile, a lecturer whose contract came to an end recently said the School of Business and Management is being hit hard due to lack of enough lecturers and tutors to start semester 2.
More than ten current experienced lecturers who were supposed to teach are still waiting whether their contracts would be renewed.
And they are still wondering why and how they were not successful in the recruitment process, the former lecturer said.
Part time lecturers and tutors are being sought to fill in the positions, it was revealed.
By Alfred Sasako
Newsroom, Honiara
