Leader of the Independent Group and Member of Parliament (MP) for North East Guadalcanal Dr. Derek Sikua explained the MPs’ scholarships as Good Samaritan for the disadvantage group in the community.
In an exclusive interview with the Solomon Star, Sikua said MPs’ scholarships bring equality among our people who were left out by the National Training Unit (NTU).
He said MPs’ scholarship awards look equally at every student regardless of race, gender, religion, background or academic performance.
He said MPs scholarships steps in to save those citizens that were denied by NTU an opportunity to pursue further their studies in tertiary institutions.
He said one good example is that remote islands like Temotu and Renbell could now have good numbers of scholarship recipients, unlike the past only two or three receive scholarships.
Also he compared ethnic groups like the Gilbertese who are citizens of the country but many times denied the equal opportunity, citing that through MPs’ privileges some of them were able to get scholarships.
He added people living in the rural areas that were qualified to do studies in the universities were denied by the NTU system, which MPs provided them the opportunity as well.
Since they are assets of the constituency once they graduate and return to work, MPs cannot let these children roam the street when they have potential to study in the universities.
Sikua elaborated that their scholarship is evenly distributed with no discrimination, seeing that children with disability can apply for it, including women.
Besides he said children that have blood related to other provinces can also receive the opportunity from where there mother or father is from, which at the end of the day it provides space for everyone regardless of skin colour, language, religion or culture.
However, Sikua revealed that a new education bill will be passed in parliament soon that will change the nature of scholarship distributed to students, which government is hopeful to ease burden on its limited funds.
By AATAI JOHN
