Two weeks ago the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development issued a strongly worded news item that seemingly blamed culture shock, a laxity in attitude and aptitude, money and excessive socialisation as the leading causes of the high failure rate of Solomon Islanders studying at the University of the South Pacific. The Permanent Secretary, Ms Maelyn Kuve, was quoted as confirming the ministry’s concern.
Whilst the blame has been laid squarely on the student’s shoulders I beg to differ. I came through the system and while I acknowledge these are some of the major factors influencing this dismal academic showing, I believe this is also a reflection of a failed system. There is clearly a selection process put in place by the Ministry of Education and the failure of this system is perhaps the biggest culprit in this case.
To state my case, let me focus on the selection process when we were put through the process. The education system was clearly cut throat; unless you were academically bright or some “top shot’s” child there was no easy way to circumnavigate the system. Only a handful of us made it through besides there was only 1 Form 7 for both Arts and Science in our times – now there are more schools offering form 7 and in many ways also eroded the quality of higher education. There is also a significant drop in aggregate accepted at different institutions. In our time anything less than an aggregate of 7 and you would find yourself in a very precarious position. It was tough and it was certainly the survival of the fittest.
Perhaps the other factor that allowed students in our time to be more successful was the requirement for interviews. Yes, you needed to pass the exams along with the interview to be granted a scholarship. The education authorities conducted interviews to gauge the capability of students before granting them scholarships. The panel would consist of those from the National Training Unit, the Labour Division and members of the selection committee. This was a rigorous process and each candidate was scrutinized thoroughly to ensure that they were fit to be awarded a scholarship. It was a wholesome process, a holistic approach that is now severely lacking in today’s selection process.
Today, I hear only students with a 3.5 GPA are awarded scholarships, no other criteria – no interviews and no close personal scrutiny by the selection committee. How can you judge a person’s capability from his grades alone? Academically bright, of course but not academically bright and fit for a scholarship or studying overseas – both are essential. We should be sending the whole person overseas on scholarships not just the brain. This is where the system failed.
Excuses ranging from the cost to questioning its reliability have been offered as impediments to reimplementing this system.
The Ministry of Education must not focus on grades and GPA alone. It must now find time, the money and the motivation to bring back its tough selection process. This is because this approach enforced institutions to invest time and money into preparing the student for life outside of the comforts of Solomon Islands. Preparing for the interview alone required that students have a very good command of English, are well dressed and manicured, have the right attitude and can instill confidence in the selection committee that they will be successful overseas.
If you ask me again what has failed – I will blame the system first then the students themselves who seem to lose their focus once they feel a small tiny tinge of freedom; childish and unfit to be at University – a tough selection process could have picked that out!