THE University of the South Pacific (USP) Laucala campus based Solomon Islands Student Association (SISA) in Suva, Fiji had clarified reports that students have been forced to defer studies as a result of the country’s financial state.
The SISA Executive in Suva, in a statement on Sunday said, it wishes to clarify the article published in the Island Sun newspaper issue on July 20.
“SISA as the student body which looks after the welfare of the students did not receive any information from the Ministry of Education informing our Education Attaché’ to advise us and inform our students to defer their study.”
In fact the email referred to in the article saying that an email has been sent by the Education Attaché’ was communicated to SISA on June 15 which they have communicated it through the students mail for purpose of reminding the students to be aware of the financial situation that resulted in the late payment of monthly allowances and encouraging them to budget their money and prioritise their rentals, SISA said in the statement.
“The information was also to remind the students that the allowance will continue until the end of year if there is no intervention taken by the ruling government.
“There was no mentioned of Ministry of Education forcing the students to defer their study. From our understanding is, if any individual could not cope with the delaying of allowances and wish to defer their study may discuss it with our Education Attaché.
“It appears that the article was retracted from the information we circulated to the students and was wrongly interpreted by anonymous sources who forwarded it to the Opposition and the local media.
“While SISA appreciate the role of the media in disseminating the information for public consumption our local journalists should at all times verify the issue to avoid giving misleading information to the readers,” the statement said.
SISA said it hopes this helps to clarify the issue.
Lectures for the semester two had begun already.
