Professor Barsil Marasinghe

THE University of Solomon Islands has apologised to students who had been left out of the final graduation list on Wednesday’s ceremony.

Acting vice Chancellor Professor Basil Marasinghe apologised for not being able to give students a few days’ notice on the change in listing, something which was beyond his control.

Professor Marasinghe explained such event occurred because of the short notice given by the SINU Council’s Financial Division since they had only one-and-half working days to prepare the final list.

However, Professor Marasinghe said the University has taken such action due to Governance Council’s decision based on two compulsory requirements consisting of Academic Requirement (successfully completing examinations) and Financial Requirement (paying fees in full).

Professor Marasinghe said the decision made was an outcome of the Governing Council’s last meeting on Friday April 21, 2017 that only students who had completed both the requirements should be allowed to graduate.

Thus the Financial Division used the prepared final list of 1,715 students during rehearsals in morning of Tuesday 25th April as original list, Professor Marasinghe said.

“By Tuesday 25th April afternoon the Financial Division was able to prepare the final list of 1638 students who had fulfilled both the requirements, so 77 students who had come for the rehearsal but had not paid fees were not able to join the Graduation.”

Professor Marasinghe adds because of student’s practice if being allowed to graduate even if they had not paid fees in full, SINU lost large amount of money this way because usually once a student has graduated, they will not be interested in paying fees.

Professor Marasinghe explained in the past the university had allowed all students despite having passed the required examination or not to graduate irrespective of the fact whether they have paid fees in full or not.

“However, all students were told very clearly that only the students who had completed both the requirements will be allowed to take part in Students’ Procession and receive certificate by the Chancellor during the Graduation.”

Meanwhile, Marasinghe said, if Finance Division finds that the supporting documents are genuine, they will inform Students Administration Services to issue certificate for that student.