Is the Solomon Islands ready for partial scholarships for tertiary studies? Does anyone have inside information on how this will work? In neighbouring PNG, the partial scholarship scheme has been very successful and works too. In other countries, there are student loans that enable people to go on tertiary studies. What system will work best for the Solomon Islands? I am of the opinion that the most deserving students should be given full scholarships. Everyone else can make do with partial scholarships or student loans. IF well managed, it will work wonders and eliminate the need for government to shoulder this as a budget item. However, government should also put in right policies to enable banks to grant loans and have a fail safe mechanism to ensure that banks recover their money at the end of studies. I see student loans in a positive light, that I have freedom to choose where I go, what I do and how long I do it.....otherwise, I could simply settle for a government scholarship and end up at USP (which I already did) and come home with a degree that does little to improve our country!!!!....I mean u study land management and you come home, there is no job!!!!!....hem discussion, so lets have some fresh ideas.
ready for partial scholarships?
Wed, 02/17/2010 - 11:09
partial scholarship and government loans does work in other countries. Also private sectors they offer student loan for undergraduate students. However this wouldnt work in the solomon islands.
Other countries have a complexed and yet easy way of tracking down students who go for such loans. Their system is highly developed that theres absolutely no room for people skippiing out on repayment. The loan system will only work with students repaying the money borrowed with little interest. Otherwise solomon Government or private sector shouldnt risk it.
The penalty that they put on such students does ensure that the students do repay them. For example, according to a few chinese friends that i have encountered during my years in college. Their system allows them to go overseas under loans but they have to return and pay back the amount that they borrowed otherwise their passport will be terminated by the govt (thats if they decide not to go home) and then reported to the foreign govt that they have no nationality (which will affect their visas)
partial schorlarship from our government equals to nothing overseas. What will that partial scholarship cover?? Even if it covers only the tuition fee, most countries woudnt take in students without certain amount of mnthly income. They require that a student should atleast show that they have enough to survive each month. Which im sure will amount to nothing. Also, if that student is to take up part time jobs but then theres another issue with the immigrations, students can only work certain hours while maintaining good grades.
I think our government should explore this after long and careful consideration and if it is to pursue this path, then alot of changes have to be made to ensure that whoever is lending the money do get their money back.
The government should cut back on handing out scholarships, I have seen people with a GPA of 2.3 flying off to fiji while the deserving students remain because of admission issues. Whos fault is that? the ministry is always late with their career lists. Release it early so that the students can apply to the USP campus.
The GPA should be tougher and not only concentrate on sending students to fiji, we need people to go out (beyond USP) and come back with new ideas. ..atleast 1 or deserving students should be sent to higher institutions. This whole system that we have really needs to be closely examined and shut down, like you said....coming back with land management degree and then what????..........I know people think that USP offers courses that we can relate to and that really suit our needs as a nation...WRONG!!!! thats where our problem is...we keep looking in our comfort zone, go out and try something new. Try ideas thats never been explored before....who knows, maybe thats whats going to work.
Im a sole believer in broadening our horizons, i use to be content with going to USP but now ill tell anyone who is willing to listen.....Go beyond USP, we need new visions, new ideas...not only for the nation but for everyone as an individual...it really is a big world and we have so much to learn and teach when we step outside of our comfort zone (which up until now stretches no further than USP)
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