SINCE the outbreak of the Corona virus (COVID-19) in early 2019, a number of government-sponsored students studying in the Philippines have been recalled back to the country.
Kedrian Vilibasia, 39, from Chimba village on the weathercoast of South Guadalcanal is one of them.
Like all other students, he was also affected by the negative impact of COVID-19.
More than two years on after being recalled, most of them are still waiting as to when they will return to continue and complete their studies.
I managed to catch up with Mr Vilibasia a fortnight ago in the Western Provincial capital of Gizo.
He is in Gizo because he is married to a lady from Ranoggah.
Mr Vilibasia used to work as a sales officer for the Bemobile Office in Western Province.
In 2015, he was based in Gizo. Then, for two years between 2016 to 2017, he was posted to Noro.
He resigned from work after he decided to take up further studies at AMA, Philippines to do his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) under a government scholarship.
However, he said, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, he returned with other students to the country.
Because of that, he was unable to complete his studies.
After living in Honiara, sometimes he returned to Gizo to see his family because it’s much cheaper than living in Honiara, he added.
“I like it in Gizo because it’s not that expensive compared to Honiara.”
In late 2021, he was contracted to work with the Plastic Wise Group under a project supported by the Strongim Bisnis. He was with the Group from September 2021 to December 2022.
However, he was just doing private work after the contract ended.
He was due to complete his studies and looking forward to returning to the Philippines.
In the Philippines, the education system normally operates under a tri-semester system.
So the next semester should start in July or August.
Mr Vilibasia said correspondence between the students and the government for the students to return to the Philippines is ongoing.
“There is greenlight from the government about sending some of the students back to the Philippines to complete their studies,” he said.
For now, he said, most of the students are waiting for any outcome.
During the height of the COVID-19 period, a number of charter flights were undertaken by the government to repatriate all local students from the Philippines.
By MOFFAT MAMU
