Programme keeps Saglaire’s morale high
After her mother died in 2015, Racheal Saglaire knew it was time for her to strive for success.
The 20-year-old is now a secondyear Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus.
She had to leave her father, a yaqona farmer, and four siblings behind in Vanua Levu with a mission to accomplish her goals.
Ms Saglaire said that moving to Suva to study was only possible through the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS).
She is among the more than 53,115 students who have benefited from the government initiative.
“This initiative has eased the burden on my family, particularly for students like me,” she said.
“I am able to pay for my tuition and accommodation to which I must add that would not be possible if it wasn’t for this initiative,” she said.
Even though there were adjustments to be made for her budget
to stay afloat, the support provided under TELS kept her morale high.
Her aim now is to finish her studies and repay her loan within two years.
Meanwhile, a statement by TSLS stated that, of the more than 53,115 TSLS students, 48,312 were under the Tertiary Education Loans scheme (TELS) and 4564 under the National Toppers Scholarship (NTS) including 25 for overseas studies.
“The early loan repayments are now highly incentivised, giving TELS recipients the opportunity to have a significant portion of study loan paid off by the Government.
The earlier the loan is paid off, the higher the discount rate on the loan amount,” the statement said.
Vika Gusivalu’s story
When Vika Gusivalu began her USP journey with dreams of completing her studies and having a stable job.
Maintaining consistency and staying committed prompted her to continue her studies.
Today, she is a second-year Bachelor of Arts student, majoring in Fijian literature and language.
It was all going well until Ms Gusivalu’s mother passed earlier this year.
This, she said created immense emotional havoc on her mental health.
“Life has been in limbo, I’ve dedicated and focused all my strength on my studies over the past few years ever since I first started,” the 20-year-old said.
“Having to realise that my mum was no more was challenging. I had to seek good advice from my friends whenever it came to going about my day.”
She left her home in Ba to study at the USP Laucala Campus in Suva.
“At times I would be at my flat and just be thinking about what my mum usually cooked and the love I miss receiving from being at home. It has become something to hold on to while trying to overcome this,” she said.
“As much as I miss home, I am on a mission to complete this degree”
She is the second eldest of four siblings.
“Losing my mum and having to realise that my father is the only one to support us financially, I had figured that losing interest in studies is certainly not an option.”Edited