After last week’s confrontation with the Education office, they appeared again on Tuesday but this time with placards showing their dire need to have their semester allowances processed.
More than 1140 government sponsored students at the country’s university for the second time confronted the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) demanding an explanation and also calling for the immediate release of their first semester allowances.
Student spokesperson Reverly Laukeni said they are tired of waiting for their allowances.
“Most of us reside on both campus Kukum and Panatina and since last week we depended on banana and other food available within our reach since the government cannot provide us food rations.
“We were promised by the National Training Unit (NTU) Director and Education Minister that allowances should be paid by this week but to-date no payments are made,” he said.
“What the education office told us is that there is a yellow paper being processed,” he added.
He expound on the yellow paper comprised of their payment.
“I talked with Permanent Secretary of MEHRD and the response is the yellow paper is now submitted to finance for possible payment.
“However, we do not know if the yellow paper reaches the final stage for dishing out our allowances per head,” Mr Laukeni said.
He said most of them are trainee teachers and their practicum time table will be offset due to the delay of payment.
“It is the teaching experience (TE) that worries us.
“We have to spend six weeks in schools as a requirement to pass our courses.
“And we have to depend on the allowance to sustain us during the TE period,” the SINU student spokesperson said.
He revealed that total payment for the student is estimated to be around $21 million and varies for students depending on courses undertaken.
“Allowances for nursing and students at the school of teaching are different.
“Also those undertaking trade skills are not fixed each semester,” Mr Laukeni said.
He slammed rumors that 65 SINU students are said to have received their allowances which is not true.
“We check with the 65 students but nothing has been paid to their account.
“They did not receive any payment just like most of us,” he said.
He then urged the government through education ministry to process the payments as soon as possible to avoid inconveniences to the academic year.
Meanwhile, the issue with the delay of students’ allowances is not new for Government Funded student like the case with those in Fiji – an issue that needs to be addressed efficiently.
By TEDDY KAFO
