Tutuvatu Forum

Anna · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 93

Read the two articles below, one from James and a rewponse from Pamela.

BY S. JAMES FROM SUVA
As a student of the university of the south pacific studying in Laucala campus, I see some very important issues regarding the above subject, which I want to put some comment. The Solomon Islands government sponsored students studying in Fiji are experiencing an unfair treatment. This is mainly because of allowance delay and ineffective communication link with the government responsible ministry. Right now, all the students already paying text books, and settle with their studies, whereas Solomon Islands students sponsored by the government are stress of lack of money to pay their study materials and even accommodation. Previous arrangement of government reimbursing USP money once used to assist its sponsored students is more effective to students, because they can settle with their studies in time. Another outcome of poor performance of the students is communication link between students and the National Training Unit (NTU), which is not effective. Students have different rates of learning, and even their study programmes are not similar, in terms of how tough or easy it is, which can be seen in some students scored good grades in a particular programme compared to other students at other programmes of study. So sponsor must discuss with the students on how to help them succeed with their studies in a good communication links, rather than waiting to just terminate their scholarship. For this reasons, I believe a fast and efficient system must be in place before NTU must have a valid reason of terminating the students, or else money will be only wasted.

BY PAMELA H. NAESOL FROM USP, LAUCALA CAMPUS
Let us not be frustrated and blame others for our low performance.
It is true that the payment of allowance for SIG sponsored students is always late, but I think it is a bit unfair to use that as an excuse for students' low performance. If it is really true that there is a direct relationship between the timing of the payment of our allowance and our level of performance, then the case should be that majority of SIG sponsored students would perform poorly. However, from my understanding, lots of SIG students had performed fairly enough last semester regardless of the very late payment of our allowance. I guess the reasons for the poor performance of others are due to factors which are beyond the control of our sponsor (NTU).

As students we should be grateful to have a sponsor to help us achieve our goals in life by obtaining a qualification, which we ourselves cannot personally afford. Thus, instead of blaming NTU for nonperformance, we should appreciate what our government is doing for us.

Regarding student performance, there are only two factors which I believe could lead to poor academic performance of students. First, is the ability of the student himself/herself, and second is the performance of lecturers and the quality of course materials. Therefore, we as students, should be held responsible for our own academic performance, rather than blaming it on other factors.

in my view students fail at usp because
1. receive allowance late
2. some lectures are not helpful
_________________
God loves us all

dakivolo · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 88

The factors that can influence students’ performance at any education level are many, varied and complex, but are interrelated. Firstly, there are factors that can be attributed to the learning institution, which includes institutional leadership, environment, expectations, facilities, etc. Secondly, there are factors that are related to the teaching-learning processes, which includes the style of lecturing, lecture knowledge/skill level, lecture preparation, and the availability of teaching resources...etc. Thirdly, there are the student related factors, which includes the students’ intellectual capability, commitment towards their studies, interests, and their general attitude towards their studies. Fourthly, there are the control factors that are outside the institution, which includes factors such as government and scholarship funding (tuition, allowances), community support and student background, which includes family income level and family support towards students’ learning.

The point I am trying to get at here is that the delay in the payment of allowances cannot be solely blamed for the poor performance of USP students. Rather, it should be seen as a contributing factor that may or may not affect a student’s performance depending on the above mentioned factors.

Chala · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 144 Location: Fiji

I think late arrival of allowances(books,accommodation,etc) does contribute significantly to academic performance in this case. The lack of established communication between NTU and USP and lack of a functional link btwn NTU and all students and respective programs as James pointed out is also a major problem that should be fixed to prevent students unnecessarily spending time on some units and end up not completing the necessary ones. In fact this is very important and should have been in place ages ago. This should also ensure that NTU is aware of and keeps track of who is graduating and with which qualification each year.
Next to this, perhaps poor time management is a problem for several students who I'm sure deep down do have the urge to study and perform well under optimal conditions.
_________________
One's Life is a journey in a world where one's destiny is influenced by one's surroundings

jon · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 42 Location: Highlands

I agree with dakivolo that performance of students at any level of education varies, complex but are inter-related. dakivolo has specifically refered to some of the issues. While I do not intend to down grade the notion that delay of allowances affect performance of students at USP, I wish to point out that a finding on the delay of allowances VS performance of SIG sponsored students can easily be done; say for 2007 and 2008 academic year. This might show the true scenario. The difficulty here however, is how do we isolate the other confounding variables or factors. Many of these factors are stated by dakivolo.

I think that when we try to correlate performance with delay of allowances as means to speed the release of allowances, it does not appeal very much to the NTU, MEHRD. Infact, the contrary is true. Report presented to the former Minister of Education now the PM and the current Minister of Education in last year USP council meeting and the recent council meeting have have shown a above average academic performance for Solomon Island students. Infact, SI students have performed well than the other regional students. This is taking the SI students enrolled in 2007 and number of students who passed. Thus, I believe that it will take more than just using academic performace to see NTU do something about early release of allowances. SISA and the SIG sponsored students would need to come up with a strategy to make NTU and students see eye to eye on this issue.

Having said that, I can feel the physical, psychological and metal frustrations students are going through as a result of such delay. But against that I am sure that you all want to succeed and you must never let such situation drag you down. These are desperate times and they call desperate measures.

Cheers Wantoks

Mataaku · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 20

Late allowances has always been an excuse for below par performance for Solomon Islands students since the inception of USP. Personally, I would have used it as an incentive. while I agree that, it will affect daily needs, however, there is no excuse when University provide facilities or services that assist student achieve their academic aspiration.

With the case of USP lecturers mentioned by USP students, I don't know what they are like, but I can assure you all that they are high trained individuals. They are not appointed as ordinary people just to read and lecture next day, but they are appointed on academic merit. Tertiary learning is different from high school learning. We should get out of spoon fed mentality. Tertiary is all about yourself, managing your own. Lecturers and supporting staff are their to guide you, but the end of the day, it is an individual thing.

I can only say that, if you want to success in what you are doing, time management is the only key. As international students, study always come first. Soccer and other social activities should always be treated as secondary.

esia · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:52 pm Post subject:

Has anyone done studies or something of a similar nature to prove that these observations and statements are justitifed? Otherwise late allowance excuses are used as scapegoats by students who are unfortunately not doing too well in their academic performances. I have personally been through all these long delays too in USP even barred from class's but manage to get through with no problems. I think there is a variability in the outcomes of performance. This variability apparently exposes individuals who are susceptible to making alot of noises and those that silently beat their butts to work excelling regardless of the circumstances.

Chala · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 144 Location: Fiji

I suppose lack of preparedness for crises/delays (financial etc) leads to poor time management as well and vice versa. If NTU/govt were to inform students in advance(say few months earlier) that there would be a delay in their allowances, the students would have time to plan ahead and even seek alternative means of coping instead of getting caught unprepared with the unpredictable nature of allowances.
_________________
One's Life is a journey in a world where one's destiny is influenced by one's surroundings

esia · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject:

Chala,
I agree with your point and maybe to add onto this. The odds or chances of delay in allowances is close too 100% so students should always have a fall back plan in the event the allowances do not fall through in time.

Anna · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 93

delay in student allowances for SIG sponsored students at USP is a sign of bad governance.

There is a direct relationship between receiving your allowance on time and whether or not one passes their courses. Nothing is free at USP.

Stop telling the world that i had been through it before and i managed to pass my courses, therefore it should be ok for you guys now. This is a falacy and borders on arogance. Stop making bad governance a normal thing for us.

What NTU and the govt of Solomon Islands is doing to their students at USP amounts to human abuse. Apart from the physical human abuse, they are also psychologically making it hard for our students to cope with studies at tertary level. when our students do not have proper orientation before they left for Suva, you can imagine the kind of damage this is doing them personally.
_________________
God loves us all

esia · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 6:12 am Post subject:

Anna,
Facing the same sequence of events and surviving the same stress is neither a fallacy and does not amount to arrogance, but reveals the truth on how individual students handle the situation. Therefore the variability in levels of susceptibility in coping with delay in allowance etc. The same can be said if allowance are on time and similar failure rates amongst students prevail.
The protracted delay in alllowance is not only restricted to NTU but includes dispersion of grants from the central government to provincial agencies eg grants to manage clinics and hospitals in provinces etc.
So unfortunately we have poor governance, poor management and incompetent individuals contributing to the plights of every body who depends on government handouts.

sv · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 195 Location: japan

there are many contributing factors to the above stated subject. while we can not rule out the delay of receiving allowances as contributing to students' poor peformances at USP, it is but just one of the many reasons.
instead, it is very obvious that many students opted to buy luxury goods like MP3, DVD players, Stereo players, laptops, etc. Experiences of allowance delay year in and year out, should have given our students a rough idea of how they should spend their money wisely on school materials and avoid spending money on luxury goods. it is also surprising that although the amount of allowances received by our current USP/SIG sponsored students are much higher than in the past, students still can not have enough to survive.
I understand that alot of solomon islands students are residing off campus in 3 or 4 individuals per apartment thus, instead of trying to buy a laptop each, these 3 or 4 individuals who reside together could just combine to buy just one laptop and share it amongst themselves with equal opportunity. actually this is what i did with my vatu frens while i was still a student at the USP.
My point here is for our good students to spend their money wisely and if possible, spend it on school materials instead of digital cameras, etc.
remember, you are only a student hence, you should live and behave like a scholar or student instead of acting like a rich person.
plan out your budget properly and spend it wisely on school materials. whatever surpluses you have should be kept until the end of the year before you could buy luxury items.
if you fail to plan, you might be a failure so spend wisely. students should always have in mind that education is always their top priority. other stuffs leave it for a later date. no cry for rich quicktime 2mas nogud u reke and complain about selen olowe.......on the other hand, SIG should not allow such situation to eventuate coz it might upset our students and may affect their studies.

Chala · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 144 Location: Fiji

Lets explore this theory: Most SIG-sponsored students are able to cope with the 'torture' and manage to pass their courses. However they probably could have done better and those who failed may have passed had it not been for funding problems. On the whole more students would have passed and done better.
One scenario is A student fails to prepare by not studying for exams cos he's hungry and emotionally/psychologically affected and he's got no books and materials and no proper residence cos hes got no allowance cos govt/NTU didnt give him any cos they have not prepared it cos govt wait for $$$ cos nara selen ba go fo nara samting nao.

Then suddenly it all arrives, rather late or all too late. Then the student starts to repay the money borrowed from others and buys books and materials, a laptop if possible, some clothes and other things for survival in a money-demanding place. He also repays his part of the rent which was paid by his flatmate although they had been kicked out of their house the previous week. He now resides with his wantoks one of whom is sponsored by another agency and is negotiating with the landlord with their contract hanging by a thread. He only has enough left for bus fare or occasionally taxi after hours. Not to mention price of nearly everything has gone up(see Fiji Times today) around here.

It is known, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. In other words students fail cos they have not prepared cos they have been failed in one way or the other (directly or indirectly) by their sponsors cos their sponsors were not prepared to give them their allowances at the right time.
The other reasons of course may include most of those mentioned by our contributors above and:
-inconducive learning physical environment or conditions
-culture shock
-excessive distractions and problems including family-related ones
-poor prioritization or undue focus on other non-essential activities and issues
-inability to withstand peer pressure
-poor study attitude for any reason
-lack of knowledge on the subject in spite of effort
-lack of proper orientation of the program including awareness on the essential examinable components
-poor attendance for various reasons including lateness, no fares, no food etc
-mishaps,errors,misunderstandings etc
_________________
One's Life is a journey in a world where one's destiny is influenced by one's surroundings