The Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, has emphasized the need for a more collaborative approach among universities, stakeholders, and the Tertiary Scholarship and Loan Service (TSLS), stating that students are not merely “money machines.”
His comments followed a revelation from TSLS’s head of Student Services, Avinay Kumar, who discussed the challenges students face in securing sponsorships, often experiencing a frustrating runaround. During the launch of the TSLS Handbook and a Stakeholder Awareness Workshop at the Holiday Inn in Suva, Kumar highlighted how miscommunication between universities and the TSLS complicates students’ application processes.
Kumar pointed out specific instances where the names of programs were altered, causing confusion among students. For example, if a program renamed “Professional Accounting” to “Bachelor of Professional Accounting,” students may receive offer letters for the latter, while TSLS is only aware of the former title. This lack of alignment leads to students navigating unnecessary hurdles to enroll in the correct study programs.
Radrodro expressed concern for students’ welfare, advocating for clear enrollment guidelines and meaningful programs, rather than treating students as financial resources. He acknowledged that feedback from university students has driven necessary policy changes within TSLS. Radrodro noted that some students fail to complete their courses because programs may no longer be available or resources are insufficient.
He affirmed the government’s commitment to minimizing confusion surrounding sponsorships for students and called for increased collaboration and dialogue to tackle these issues effectively.