The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Basil Shelton Marasinghe during a ground breaking event at the Panatina Pavilion

ACTING Vice-Chancellor of SINU, Professor Basil Shelton Marasinghe proposes to the Government to consider sending students to Solomon Islands National University to save expenses for other matters.

He said this during the opening of SINU’s new complex yesterday which he described as very important development not only for SINU but the entire country.

Prof Basil said he is aware of Solomon Islands Government spending nearly SBD300 million dollars annually to send students abroad for tertiary studies.

With the presence of the Acting Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga, four Ministers of the crown and several permanent secretaries, Prof Basil put it to the government envoy to consider SINU.

“I beg you to consider sending Solomon Island’s students to SINU where bachelor, master and doctoral degrees are available,” Prof Basil said.

“Instead of spending large amount of money every year by sending students abroad with scholarships with high tuition fees, airfare and covering expenses.”

By investing more in SINU Prof Basil said Government can save at least 250 million dollars a year which can be used for health and other important services.

The Acting Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga said, “As a long term initiative, the Government’s intentions in the education sector including SINU are laid out in the National Development Strategy (NDS 2016 – 2035).

He said the document which has as Objective 3 had the desire for all Solomon Islanders to have access to quality education.

Currently, SINU has eight added bachelor programmes to its academic programmes.

The School of Technology which conducts engineering diploma programmes is considering going to bachelor’s degree level.

Apart from medicine and law, SINU has bachelor’s degrees in almost all areas which it is now possible for suitable persons to carry out research leading to masters and doctoral degrees.