SOLOMON Islands Government (SIG) sponsored students from institutions in Fiji have reportedly began this academic year with the all-too-familiar stress over allowance delays.

This was confirmed yesterday afternoon after an email from the office of the Solomon Islands Education Attaché in Fiji notified students of the delay of students’ February allowance and book allowance.

These allowances are supposed to be paid on the first week of this month but have not.

Solomon Islands Students Association (SISA) at the USP, Laucala Campus yesterday received an email from Solomon Islands Education Attaché in Fiji, Samantha Teitei informing them that funds for their allowances has not yet been received by her office.

She adds that this means that their allowances will not be paid until a further date.

Ms Teitei said the issue is beyond her office’s capacity, saying that all payment is still in the Solomon Islands’ Australian New Zealand (ANZ) Bank.

She instead advised all students to inform their parents and guardians from Solomons to send money over to their children in Fiji to sustain them while waiting for the allowances.

Meanwhile, local students studying at the Laucala Campus yesterday raised their frustration following the delay of their allowances.

SISA understand that it almost three weeks since students arrived in Fiji but still they have not received their allowances.

“It is a bad start of our students’ 2018 academic year as the situation is quite disturbing to their study as their book allowances are also yet to be paid and most worrying is their cost of living in the foreign country.”

SISA urges responsible authorities to quickly address students’ issues. SISA is also appealing to all students to look after and care for each other at this time of hardship and struggle for future endeavours of their family and country.

–SISA PRESS

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

KOKONUT Pacific Solomon Islands (KPSI) is currently engaged in efforts to promote its products in the local and global market.

KPSI’s sales and marketing manager, Mr Calwin Kepo expressed this to the paper yesterday.

He explained that they had held talks with Honiara City Council purposely for them to get a heads up about the fee for sales promotion around Honiara and how to go about it.

Moreover, Kepo emphasised that the main idea behind this is to raise awareness for people in in the capital who are not well versed about their products and associated benefits.

He adds that this is also about creating a sense of patriotism

“Our aim is to create a sense of patriotism where our people can be proud of our products because they are made from coconuts, our coconuts,” said Kepo.

On another note, he stated that they are looking forward to working with the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau to identify dates of tourist boats and international tourists expected in the country.

Kepo stresses that this will be a great platform for KPSI to showcase their products and promote Solomon Islands products at the international stage.

“Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands (KPSI) will be able to display and market its products to international visitors.

“Such events will help promote Solomon Islands products to the international market or scene, benefitting not only KPSI but the country as a whole, particularly the local coconut farmers,” he said.

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BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

MOST people are not aware about Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands products.

This is according to the company’s sales and marketing manager, Mr Calwin Kepo.

He stressed that they are trying to promote their products as well as publicly inform people of the health benefits their natural products have.

Moreover, Kepo said that one thing people should know is that KPSI has gone organic and is chemical free with very limited use of the substance.

“So we’re trying to promote our products in Solomon Islands so that people can purchase our products instead of buying chemical added products,” he said.

Kepo adds that with their natural products, they are also promoting healthy living and some of these products include fragrances, therapy oil, cooking oil and soap.

With regards to pricing, he explained that while some shops in the capital sell coconut oil that have a pinch of chemical, their coconut oil is natural.

“Our coconut oil is natural, it is not expensive but the price is related to the quality and the healthy lifestyle benefits that comes with it.

“Even now, overseas, people are trying to get hold of natural products,” said Kepo.

He furthers that if you are health conscious then being aware of your health in terms of knowing what you consume and what you put on your body is very important.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands schools using the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) are urged to collaborate to produce better academic results for students.

The call was made by Mr Basil Tavake, Admin Director for Holau Christian Academy (HCA), one of the schools that operate under ACE curriculum.

“However this can be achieved if all the schools see values in working together as common goal and will also give a meaningful reason to work together.

“Because in returned collaboration will provide all cooperative partners or schools with equal opportunities to participate and communicate their idea about school plans and visions,” Basil said.

In addition the collaboration all urged to work toward will then allows students to absorb subject material at their own PACE (Packet of Accelerated Christian Education) rather than being forced to learn at a pace by a teacher in a classroom environment.

Also its programmes will enable schools and home schools to administer PACEs to multiple students on different grade levels with minimal staffing and will helps students to enhance their gifts talents for ministry work both local and abroad.