BY INDY MAEALAISA
Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) has confirmed that payment for government-sponsored students’ allowances at the University of the South Pacific (USP) Emalus Campus in Vanuatu is being processed.
The confirmation comes a week after students raised concerns about delays in receiving their allowances, leaving them struggling to manage essential expenses.
Currently, there are nine sponsored students undertaking law studies at Emalus Campus.
According to the President of the Solomon Islands Students Association, Rocky Urabana, the allowance payment for January and February was originally allocated for only five continuing students.
However, with four new students joining them this year, the funds had to be divided equally among all nine, resulting in lower-than-expected individual payments.
Urabana told Island Sun that surviving on approximately 100,000 Vatu (SBD6,500) for seven weeks has been extremely difficult.
“Like rental is 30,000 and few students have to pay laptop which cost around VUV40,000-60,000 for the cheaper ones then have to pay bond for rental which is equivalent to the monthly rental rate,” he explained
The president called on the government to quickly settle their outstanding allowances so they can meet their needs and daily living expenses.
The students are now well into week seven of the first semester.
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