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Solomon Island students at the University of the South Pacific in Suva have told their government that they will protest if their government fails to see that the devaluation of Fiji's dollar by 20 per cent in April has put financial pressure on Solomon Islands' students in Suva.
The students have asked their government in Honiara to help with the rise in the cost of housing, books and food by factoring in inflationary effects for the second semester allowance.
However, ABC News reports that the Secretary of the Education Ministry in the Solomon, Mylyn Kuve, said the department can't act on the matter right away because the government doesn't have the money.
"We cannot afford to pay the full 20 per cent but we will consider something based on the affordability of the government," she said.
Former government sponsored student and USP Students Association's Education chairman Slyde Ehakeni said students were not actually asking the government for more money.
"What they wanted was since the devaluation of the Fiji dollar, that would mean the Solomon Islands dollar would gain a bit," he said.
He said the government should maintain the amount previously budgeted for students, which would be enough of an increase to compensate for inflation.
Students have submitted a letter to the Solomon Islands High Commission is Suva saying they will protest if their demands are not met.
