SISA pledges to stand with students
More than thirty government sponsored students studying at the University of South Pacific, (USP) Laucala Campus in Suva, Fiji are expected to be terminated and others receiving indefinite suspension to their scholarships.
The 31 students are those who failed up to four courses during the first semester.
A well placed source said the Solomon Islands Students Association (SISA) executive at USP in Fiji sympathises with the students therefore pledged their support in appealing the government decision.
“Some 31 students are on the firing and suspension list.
“From the 31, 10 are expected to face the axe with 21 are to face indefinite suspension,” the source revealed.
The source said the 21 earmarked for suspension are those who fail half of their courses while the 10 in the firing line are those who fail over half.
The source however said that on Friday 15th, the SISA executive met over the issue and make agreed to appeal against the “harsh decision” made by the National Training Committee (NTC).
“An appeal letter will be sent to the National Training Committee (NTC) and the National Training Unit (NTU) on Monday, outlining grounds on which SISA executive thinks NTC should reconsider their decision and to allow the students to continue with their studies this second semester.
“There is no guarantee that NTC will change its decision but the students were just told to wait as SISA make the attempt to save them.”
The Solomon Star understands the students will be given a chance to put their arguments forward individually when they meet with the education attaché this week for consultations.
The suspension and termination list includes first, second and final year students.
The source explained that some of the likely exceptions for such poor performances were due to Cyclone Winston, which affected academic classes early this year as well as the late arrival of some students last semester.
This year’s termination and suspension number has decreased compared to last year’s first semester which was 59.
Attempts to get comment from NTU last night were unsuccessful.
By STEPHEN DIISANGO
