Forty-four per cent of students under the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS) risk suspension of their allowance and tuition fees as they have not submitted their vaccination details.

Responding to queries from the Fiji Sun, Chairman of the Board Rakesh Ram said 5905 students are yet to submit their vaccination details and will be suspended if they do not do so by August 31st.

TSLS currently has 13,402 students on active bond term.

“For Students who are not vaccinated or have not been granted exemption for vaccination, all further allowance and tuition payments will be suspended until they get vaccinated,” Mr Ram said.

He said allowance payments will only be paid for the remaining weeks after evidence of the first dose is submitted to TSLS.

Exemption is given to students with medical reasons by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, students who are below the age of 18 and students who live in areas where the COVID-19 vaccine is not available until 31st August.

Mr Ram said extension of the deadline may be given to students in those areas to get vaccinated when the vaccine becomes available.

“Students from this area will continue to be paid until such time the vaccine is available in their area and they opt not to get vaccinated than only payments will be suspended,” he said.

“TSLS will use all means to reach students to notify them of the vaccine requirements.

“In case students are in areas where there is internet connectivity issue, TSLS will attempt to contact the students via phone to obtain feedback.

“TSLS will not penalise any student who falls in one of the above categories.”

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