4 Aug 2011

Vanuatu students in New Caledonia distressed that government funding hasn't arrived

3:23 pm on 4 August 2011

98 Vanuatu students studying at universities in New Caledonia on government scholarships haven't received funding due two months ago.

They were visited by the Vanuatu minister of education, Marcelino Pepite, last week and he promised the money would be transferred to their accounts promptly, but as of this morning that hadn't happened.

They students are meant to receive 700 thousand vatu, or nearly eight thousand US dollars a year, in two instalments, but the second payment hasn't been made.

Some students have threatened to end their studies and return home.

They describe last week's visit by the minister as a waste of money.