Samoa's Prime Minister wants New Zealand to reconsider its online scholarship assessment process.
Photo: supplied / Forum Secretariat
Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, who is also the chairman of the government scholarship committee, has raised concerns over the newly introduced online process after 20 student applications were unsuccessful for 2019 awards.
Speaking at a government reception for university awardees, Tuila'epa said the government is to fund 20 students to the tune of $US250,000 as a result of the selection process introduced last year.
He said this was part of the reason the government is trying to extend its tax base.
The prime minister said he would not expect selection process to remain the same next year.
"The basis for selection applied in the past years under the Scholarship Harmonisation arrangement, based on academic merit, is a very, very transparent and acceptable process that I intend to push for and have reinstated."
This year 172 scholarship awardees will take up study overseas funded by the New Zealand and Australia governments.