Dear Editor – Most tertiary students and even senior secondary students (F6/F7) beginning from last year are sponsored by govt under the MPs constituency funding scheme.
This is part of government assistance in ensuring its support to the people in education sector. To such it brings hope and shine forth to parents prioritizing and investing in education. The assistance also is a great one as it gives a sigh of relieve to most struggling and hardworking fee payers, guardians and parents financially.
For that, I appreciate and salute you.
However, the concerning and complaining issue in this regard is the late deliverance of sponsorship payment made by each MP to respective institutions where students enrolled and undertaking their studies at.
Majority of students enrolled under this constituencies funding scheme in each institution I believe are the most ones who have their names pinned or listed in a board with the heading “outstanding arrears” above their names.
It somehow a problem to students academically and worsen if MPs continue not to settle such depts.
More on that, previous weeks ago, I heard students enrolled at the USP Honiara campus complaining that their accounts were blocked forcing them difficulties in submitting their assessments, accessing Moodle pages, viewing feedbacks, attempting quizzes and activities and consulting their coordinators for assistance online. Even worse, they were not allowed to attend lectures, they told, unless their arrears solved.
Also, students with arrears will be sitting their exams, but their grades will be hold for that matter causing burden and uncertainty to them.
The same, I believe might happen to students undergoing studies at other learning institutions locally and abroad sponsored by the same funding.
Failing to sort the problem out, affects the learning process we adhere to. Moreover, if the arrears continue unpaid, then the matter will become worsen as it will have hindered students of furthering academically.
On that note, it is a factor also leading to failing some units for some. Furthermore, the problem is worsening to students doing further studies online.
As a concern student, I asked each MP to prioritize and consider us in adhere to this pressing and an unsolved matter which affects us academically. If govt fail to do their part, then it became our arrears. Therefore, MPs to each constituency with arrears are urgently called to solve it by now if it is your failure to do so. But if it is somewhere beginning then follow it up or else do something in an attempt to have it solved.
Be reminded MPs, if you are putting your priority in education investment then you must act now and be prioritize to sort it out in time as our academic semester nearing its end, or else stop promising us of such sponsorship fund. Your passion towards your support is worthwhile.
Tagio & God bless SI.
Stenneth Neretaba
USP, Honiara campus
