SICHE students rep calls on government to be fair in its sponsorship approach

The Government has been urged to be fair in sponsoring students in all disciplines at the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education, SICHE.

An Executive member of SICHE's Students Association, Kendrick Tango’eha says at present the government is only sponsoring students who take up nursing and teaching courses.

Mr Tango’eha, who is studying towards the Diploma in Tropical Agriculture, says SICHE produces 90 percent of the country’s workforce especially in the lower and middle levels of employment in both the public and private sectors.

He says restricting the assistance to nursing and teaching professions only means that only less than one-third of the annual intake of students is covered for tuition and accommodation fees.

Mr Tango’eha says more than 75 percent of the students are self-sponsored and are living with parents or relatives during the duration of their programmes.

He says the current arrangement is discriminatory and is not conducive to the Government’s attempts to bring about socio-economic development to Solomon Islanders.

Mr Tango’eha says agriculture is expected to feature prominently in the Government’s Rural Development Policy and Bottom Up Approach.

He says students who would be responsible for implementing that policy after graduating from SICHE, are all self-sponsored.

Source: SIBC