Rivers Students On Foreign Scholarships Face Hard Times

Students of Rivers State origin on scholarship in foreign countries under the state government’s scholarship scheme have sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) following difficulties warranted by non-fees payment.
Some of the students who spoke to The Tide via telephone stated that the hardship they are currently exposed to due to lack of fund has forced some of them to  indulge in doing anything to survive.
A student of University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada who spoke on condition of anonymity, for instance, said the state government stopped paying their fees and allowances since June, 2014, adding that this present government has paid their allowances for December, 2014.
“Since June 2014, we have been doing everything possible just to cater for ourselves. Some of us who are fortunate get jobs such as washing dishes and cutting grasses.
“The unfortunate ones, especially the girls, also indulge in prostitution, just  to survive. Some others even do other things”, the student said.
The situation, according to the student, is the same in all other schools in Canada which have students on scholarship.  They include those in Toronto, Vancouver Universities among others.
Currently, the student continued, “we have been given a deadline to pay our fess or face possible deportation.
“For the past one session and a semester, we have not been allowed to see our results because we have not paid our fees.
“Some of our colleagues who are unable to pay for accommodation are either squatting with fellow colleagues or living on the mercy of people as house helps.”
When The Tide contacted the Permanent Secretary of Rivers State Scholarship Board, Mr. Dagogo  A. Hart, he only confirmed that the foreign scholarship scheme has been transferred from the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to the Scholarship Board, adding that he has not been briefed on the issue.